As we age, many things change, and not all of them change for the better. Age-related eyes diseases are some of these less than positive changes. Among the most common of these ailments are macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, presbyopia, and dry eye.
While dry eye and presbyopia are not diseases, per se, they do cause numerous problems in seniors, and dry eye syndrome is linked to many other age-related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, and lupus. Dry eye can also impact a person's ability to see clearly. Presbyopia is the age-related loss of clarity and focus due to the hardening of the eye's lens.
Cataracts are considered …show more content…
Glaucoma causes permanent vision loss, and, if not treated, it will quickly lead to total blindness. The risk of glaucoma goes up one percent each year after 40. It is estimated that nearly 4 million seniors will have glaucoma by 2020.
Diabetic retinopathy impacts seniors with diabetes. Close to 40 percent of the nearly 15 million Americans with diabetes have some level of diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the small blood vessels in the retina causing blindness.
Regardless of the reason behind the vision loss, seniors with impaired vision may need help with daily living tasks if they are aging in place. In home care providers can help meet your loved one's needs as they adjust to life with impaired vision. Even with glasses, magnifiers, and assistive devices, there are tasks that become quite difficult with a loss of vision. For one, reading those tiny labels on prescription bottles can be worrisome. Most seniors over the age of 65 take eight to 15 medications each day, which is why in home care medication management support is so important.
In home care can also address the increased risk of falls associated with decreased