Maintaining good eye health becomes more challenging as you get older. As you age, it becomes more difficult for your eyes to focus. Eyesight can also become affected by conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. If you are a senior citizen, here are a few tips to maintain your eye health.
General eye care tips
To keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear, practice good preventative care. This means scheduling regular appointments with your eye doctor and ensuring that your eyesight is in good shape. You should also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays, which can damage the cornea and cause vision problems and eye diseases. Additionally, you should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to keep your blood pressure within a normal range. High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels in your eye and increase the risk of vision loss.
Contact lens care for seniors
Whether they are worn for cosmetic or medical purposes, contact lenses should be cared for just like regular glasses. Using the right products and keeping lenses clean will go a long way in preventing eye infections and other problems that can arise from improperly maintained contacts. Additionally, be sure to speak to your eye doctor about the best contact lens options for your eyes and lifestyle. Some contacts are better than others for certain activities, such as sleeping or long-distance driving.
Dry eye treatment for seniors
Seniors often suffer from dry eyes. While it isn’t the most common reason for decreased vision, it is one of the most common reasons for visits to eye doctors in the United States. Over half of all people over the age of 65 experience some form of dry eye syndrome. Some common causes of dry eyes among seniors include not blinking enough when reading or watching TV for long periods of time, allergies, and prescription medications. With age, the eye’s tear glands produce fewer tears. This leads to the eyes drying out and becoming irritated more easily.
Cataract care for seniors
Seniors have an increased risk of developing cataracts, which is when either one or both of the lenses in their eyes become cloudy or opaque. This can make vision blurry and lead to blindness if left untreated. Fortunately, cataract surgery is an easy and effective way to restore clear eyesight.
If you’re a senior who suddenly experiences a change in your vision, schedule an appointment with our doctor as soon as you can. Our team can perform a thorough eye exam to determine if your blurred vision is caused by cataracts or another condition. If so, we’ll refer you to a surgeon who can perform the surgery to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear implant. The surgery is quick and relatively painless as long as you have a qualified surgeon by your side.
Some seniors will be good candidates for mono-focal lenses. These lenses are for patients who can’t benefit from traditional cataract surgery, such as those who also have presbyopia. Monofocal lenses allow the eye to focus on objects far away but not up close, which can make it difficult to read small print or do other tasks that require better clarity. Your eye doctor will be able to determine which type of lens is right for your individual situation.
At Summerlin Vision, we firmly believe that everyone should have regular comprehensive eye exams. We are located at 900 S Pavilion Center Dr #140, Las Vegas, NV 89144. You can also reach us at (702) 243-8788 and schedule an appointment.
