EYE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY
·
Your eyes are among the most precious and useful
parts of the body.
·
They assume an even more important role in old
age when other physical tasks become impossible with the body weakening due to
age.
·
At such times, reading and watching television
and teaching grandchildren – all tasks done by the eyes – become important.
A. EYE DISEASES OF THE ELDERLY
1. Cataract
·
It is the commonest ailment of age.
·
It causes blurring of vision, haloes around
light and difficulty seeing both in sunlight and dark.
·
However, it is treated easily with surgical
replacement of the affected lens with an intra-ocular lens.
2. Glaucoma
·
This is a common disease after 50 years of age in which
eye pressure increases and damages the optic nerve.
·
Diagnosis is through 4 tests and treatment is
primarily with eye drops.
·
In patients where pressure is uncontrolled with
drugs, surgical procedures are available.
3. Dry eye
·
It is a common problem in old age, when tear-producing glands produce less than the
required amount of tears.
· One then needs lubricant drops in the eye.
·
This disease is diagnosed clinically by Scrimer’s test.
B. EFFECT OF AGE ON
THE EYES
·
Ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure,
kidney and liver disease, arthritis, asthma, thyroid, cancer and allergies also
affect the eyes.
·
These cause frequent change in power of glasses,
early development of cataract, swelling (inflammation) of inner structures of
the eye, hemorrhages and blockages in the retina and damage to optic nerves,
leading to vision deterioration and even blindness.
·
Diabetes and high BP can cause bleeding inside
the eye and blockage of blood vessels, causing temporary or permanent vision
loss.
C. EYE CHECKUP AND
PREVENTION
·
In old people who have ailments associated with
lifestyles and age, eye checks should be done every 6 months.
·
In the elderly with no systemic illnesses, a
yearly checkup is advised.
·
Diabetics should keep strict watch over their
sugar and BP levels, as sudden fluctuations damage the eyes.
·
Assessment for cataract, eye pressure, and
retina is important.
·
Check glasses yearly, and if there are frequent
changes in power, consider it a warning sign.