August is National Eye Exam month and now is the perfect time to schedule an eye exam for your senior mom or dad. Getting regular eye exams is very important for seniors because it’s the best way for eye doctors to spot problems early. If your senior parent is diagnosed with an eye condition early, there is a better chance that it can be successfully treated.
Most doctors recommend that seniors get an eye exam at least once a year. However, anytime your senior mom or dad experiences a change in their vision they should see an eye doctor. Some of the vision changes that seniors commonly experience are:
- Not being able to see close up
- Not being able to see far away
- Double vision
- Seeing “floaters”
- Seeing flashing lights
- Not being able to see clearly
Your mom or dad may also develop dry eyes, irritated eyes, or red eyes. If that happens you should schedule an eye exam for them.
Home Care Can Help
If you can’t get your senior mom or dad to the eye doctor because you can’t take the time off of work, have to pick up your kids from school, or live too far way home care can help. If your mom or dad has home care a home care provider can take them to the eye doctor, stay with them during the appointment, and make sure they get home safely after the appointment. Just a few of the reasons why your mom or dad needs an eye exam are:
Detection of Age-Related Eye Diseases
Seniors have a high risk of developing conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetes, which all affect vision and eye health. Regular eye exams increase the chance that any conditions your mom or dad has will be caught early, so they can be treated early.
Monitoring and Managing Systemic Health Conditions
Regular eye exams can help your senior parent’s doctors manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Seniors who have these conditions can develop diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy. If your senior mom or dad has changes in their vision that show up in a routine vision screening it could indicate a change in their health.
Updating Prescriptions
Vision changes with age, and regular eye exams ensure that seniors have the correct prescription for glasses or contact lenses, improving their quality of life and reducing the risk of falls and accidents. Getting regular exams should be a part of routine medical care for seniors.
Overall Eye Health
Regular exams can identify other eye issues such as dry eyes, infections, or retinal problems, ensuring overall eye health and comfort. There are a lot of medical conditions that can cause chronic dry eye or redness symptoms.
Allergies can also cause eye discomfort. And some medications taken for common illnesses have eye or vision problems as a side effect.
It’s important for your senior parent to get regular eye exams to make sure their eyes are healthy and that any underlying medical conditions are being managed.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Home Care in Addison, IL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care – Lombard Today At (630) 313-6160.
Assisting Hands Home Care – Lombard Provides Exceptional Home Care For Seniors In Elmhurst, IL And The Surrounding Areas.