Why Annual Eye Exams Are Important for Seniors

When it comes to yearly eye exams, many seniors often underestimate the importance of this crucial checkup. If they currently were eyeglasses or contact lenses and don’t have any issues seeing, it’s common for older adults to skip what they believe to be an unnecessary examination. However, many seniors taking advantage of in-home care in Philadelphia don’t realize that these annual exams include more than just vision tests.

As humans age, the risk of developing a myriad of vision issues, such as cataracts and hypertension retinopathy, increases. By having routine screenings done during annual eye exams, these conditions can be caught early before they evolve into bigger issues.

In addition, regular eye exams can also help seniors catch the onset of other chronic health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up within the eye. Unfortunately, there are no early symptoms for glaucoma, making it challenging to catch when eye exams are skipped. During your checkup, your optometrist will check for signs of this condition in order to catch it in its early stages. When left unaddressed, glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and cause either a complete loss of vision or peripheral vision loss.

Cataracts

Cataracts take place when the lens of the eye becomes less flexible. While treatable, cataracts that remain unaddressed can eventually lead to vision loss. Some symptoms of cataracts include blurred or foggy vision. Some patients might also develop sensitivity to light. The leading risk factor of cataracts is age, so seniors should have their eyes checked annually in order to have a screening done.

Hypertension Retinopathy

Did you know that, in addition to heart or kidney problems, hypertension can also cause vision damage? Many older adults are unaware when they have high blood pressure, meaning that changes to their vision go unchecked. However, this can be dangerous for their eye health. Untreated hypertension can damage the blood vessels location in the back of the eye. This can eventually result in narrowing of the retina’s blood vessels, which can then cause bleeding in the back of the eye and the optic nerve to swell. In addition to having heart pressure checked regularly by a physician, seniors should be visiting an optometrist annually to check for early signs.