Eyesight is precious – for most people losing their sight would be one of the worst afflictions imaginable. Yet we’re often neglectful of the proper regular testing – a mistake which can be compounded in old age.
Forgetfulness afflicts many elderly people – not just those with
dementia. When it comes to eye tests, which should take place every couple of years, it can be particularly problematic for older people to remember they need to go. The date of the previous visit can be forgotten and then the whole necessity of an eye test may simply never cross their mind.
If the elderly person is being cared for at home by loved ones then eye testing – which doesn’t present itself as an urgent issue – can easily be overlooked.
This is cause for concern because it is important for older people to have glasses if necessary and for their prescriptions to be kept accurate. This is not only for reading; distance vision can also deteriorate in old age and this can lead to problems when the elderly are out and about.
What’s more, eye tests can be crucial for spotting important health problems, so it’s important to ensure the elderly are checked regularly by a qualified optometrist.
Planning Your Appointment
For most elderly people a trip to the optician is not going to be a major issue – you simply need to sort out transport and make sure someone is with them. However, this will not be the case for all so there are a number of issues you may want to plan for.
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There may be a time of day when the elderly person is at their best, so make the appointment then.
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If it’s likely there could be issues which mean the appointment might take longer than usual let the receptionist know when you book.
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Could there be accessibility issues at the optician’s?
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Leave plenty of time so you can reach the optician’s without any sense of rush or hassle.
If the elderly person has not had an eye test for some time and you think they may be unsettled by some of the procedures then you could help prepare them by talking it through well in advance.
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They will be likely to have the optometrist working close to their face.
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A light will be shone in their eyes whilst the room is darkened.
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They will have to wear bulky frames and concentrate on a board of letters.
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They may have to rest their chin on a machine which puffs air into their eyes.
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They may have drops put in their eyes to widen pupils. This can leave them with blurry vision.
Going through all of this could help greatly if the elderly person is likely to be anxious.
Free NHS Sight Examinations
Everyone living in Scotland or Wales is entitled to free NHS sight tests. In England if you are over 60 it is also free, so there should be no bar to the elderly taking up this valuable examination.
You can also receive free sight tests if you receive any of a wide range of benefits, if you are registered blind/partially sighted, or you have glaucoma or diabetes. You can find out more at
NHS Choices.
General Health
Ensuring the elderly have healthy eyes is a good enough reason in itself to make sure they have regular eye examinations. However, a wide range of diseases in the rest of the body can cause changes in the eye which will be spotted by your optometrist. Often these diseases will have no other obvious symptoms in the early stages and so eye tests provide an invaluable early warning system which allows doctors to diagnose and treat problems before they become severe.
Eye tests could indicate a person has:
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Diabetes
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High blood pressure
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Viral/bacterial infections
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Cardiovascular diseases
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Problems with the digestive tract
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Kidney diseases
Even vitamin deficiencies could be picked up through an eye exam. More than windows to the soul, your eyes can be a window on your body’s health, which is a great deal more practical!
Useful Extras
Eyes should be examined at least once every two years, but an annual trip may be a good idea in old age. However, if your loved ones need glasses your help doesn’t stop with a visit to the optician.
There are a number of things you can attend to which will help the elderly who wear glasses:
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If they need glasses for both reading and distance vision then you could label the glasses. Your optician can provide stickers labelled ‘Distance’ and ‘Reading’ or you could use coloured dots.
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Make sure they have a good method of cleaning their glasses. A cardigan sleeve is not ideal! You can buy damp wipes specially designed for cleaning glasses as well as small cleaning sprays.
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Are lost glasses a problem? A glasses chain to hang them round the neck can be useful. You can also buy upright tidy-cases which serve as useful protective holders for glasses and keep them safe.
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Making sure the glasses come with an anti-scratch coating will help prolong their life and keep them in good condition.
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If it can be afforded you might want to consider ordering spare pairs. If accident or loss leaves your loved one without their glasses this can be extremely debilitating. Some opticians offer two-for-one deals which could meet this need.
Helpful Guides for Better Lives
The
in-home care services provided by Nobilis give us an intimate understanding of the problems people experience in old age. Fortunately, this also means we know plenty of solutions! That’s why we have built this information library packed full of useful guides and tips for improving quality of life for the elderly.
But it doesn’t stop there. Our friendly team is ready to help with any enquiry you may have about the difficulties your loved ones are experiencing. Whether you’re interested in our care services or not, we are genuinely happy to pass on our experience and advice. Just call the number below and if we can help, we will.
Telephone – 0845 680 0225