You read your books, you watch your films, you drive around your city and you find yourself breezing through your daily routines. From what you can tell, there’s nothing noticeably different with your vision and ultimately no need to have an eye exam this year. Does that sound like you?
This is a very common mistake a lot of people, particularly seniors, make. Most people relate eye exams with just updating their glasses but that’s not the only reason you should be up to date with them, especially if you are over 65 years old.
In this blog we are going to discuss how often senior eye exams should be taken and why you should be extra careful with your vision and health at this point in life.
Regular Eye Exams Are Important
If you are over 65, keeping an eye on your health is more than important, it is crucial. As we get older, our risk of health-related problems increases, and that also includes our eyes. For that reason, experts recommend having a senior eye exam on a yearly basis. Being regular with your eye exams helps you catch age-related eye diseases early on.
It is estimated that 75 percent of visual impairments can be prevented or better treated if detected at an early stage. In other words, the sooner you catch them, the higher the chances of getting them treated and preserve vision.
What Diseases Can Be Detected During an Eye Exam?
Many eye diseases have little to no symptoms in their early stages. For example, glaucoma usually shows no noticeable symptoms in the early stages, which makes it difficult to be treated unless it’s diagnosed through annual eye exams. Waiting for symptoms would mean the vision loss is irreversible, but early detection can slow or stop vision loss from occurring.
Unfortunately, this is also the case with many other eye-related diseases. Apart from helping you detect some of these diseases early on, regular eye exams are also important for disease treatment as they usually require regular visits to your optometrist. Common eye diseases that can affect seniors include:
Cataracts
It is common for people suffering from cataracts to experience clouded, blurry or dim vision. They might also have trouble seeing at night and see halos around lights. In most cases, regular eye exams can detect it in its early stages. Referral for cataract surgery can be made, when necessary.
Glaucoma
Most types of glaucoma have no symptoms in the early stages. Certain types of glaucoma may cause eye pain or pressure, headaches, narrow vision (tunnel vision) blind spots, among other symptoms. Treatment for glaucoma is most successful when started at the early stages, which makes it especially important for seniors to have an annual eye exam so that treatment can start as soon as possible.
Macular Degeneration
In contrast with glaucoma, macular degeneration can make people suffer from blind spots or even loss of central vision, instead of peripheral vision. This usually makes reading, driving and other everyday activities more difficult to do. As it directly impacts people’s everyday activities, it’s one of the main reasons why seniors should consistently take their eye exams.
Prevention of Systemic Diseases
Did you know that eye exams can even help you detect diseases that are not directly associated with the eyes? When taken regularly, these exams can reveal, for instance, early signs of diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases, even before the more noticeable symptoms start to manifest. It is important for senior eye exams to be taken once a year in addition to routine medical care with your family doctor.
Waste No Time – Schedule an Eye Exam for Seniors Today
Ready to take the next step to ensure you have a healthy vision for years to come? Are you over the age of 65 and would like to make sure your eyes are as healthy as they can be? Don’t hesitate to give us a call and schedule your eye exam in the Greater Edmonton Area including Leduc and Westlock. At Optometrists' Clinic Inc we are not just about updating your glasses prescription. Our eye doctors conduct thorough eye exams to help you keep an eye on many potential sight-related issues, making sure we help you keep your vision sharp, clear and healthy for all the years ahead.