Eye Care for Older Adults

Visual impairment is common in the older adult. Many eye disorders do not exhibit any symptoms until they enter their late stages. Therefore, it is important to schedule your eye exam every 2-4 years if you are between the ages of 40 and 64, and every 1-2 years if you are 65 years of age or older. If you are experiencing any changes in vision, schedule an appointment immediately. Although some disorders cannot be cured, there are ways to delay onset or progression. This patient aid outlines the symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment options for cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration—three very common disorders that affect the vision of older adults.

 

Geriatric Eye Care Focus: Dry Eye

 

Problems with burning, itching, intermittent blurry vision, tearing, and/or discharge may be associated with a variety of conditions responsible for dry eye.  Many people describe a "sandy or gritty feeling" in their eyes or complain about feeling as though there's always something in their eye.  Some dry eye can be very uncomfortable, even painful and feel as though a pin is pricking the eye. 

 

Generally, as we age, the composition of our tears change.  Tears are actually quite complex and consist of oily substances, jelly-like components;  all of which are made to make the tear stick to and lubricate the eye as well as allow the eyelids to easily glide over the surface of the eye with every blink.  When the tear quality changes, the pH of the tears changes, the tears tend to evaporate much more quickly leaving dry spots, and the tears don't coat the eye as well resulting in the eyelids somewhat chaffing against the eye with every blink.

 

Dr. Jacobsen can perform specific tests to determine which components are responsible for your symptoms and what treatment would be most beneficial.