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Vision Problems
By Dr. John M. Boyer
The most common vision-related diseases affecting seniors are glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma occurs when pressure inside the eye is too high and damages the optic nerve. Treatment usually involves lowering the pressure inside the eye with drops or surgery.
Symptoms: Glaucoma can progress undetected. The first signs are usually a decrease in side vision. Early treatment is critical because it can slow the progression of the disease, but any loss that has already occurred at the time of diagnosis is permanent.
Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye turns from clear to cloudy, most often due to advancing age. The only treatment is surgery to replace the cloudy lens with a lens implant.
Symptoms: Bothersome glare, constantly cloudy vision, and halos around lights are all signs of cataracts.
Macular degeneration, the most common cause of legal blindness in the U.S. and the Western world, occurs when aging changes in the central part of the retina lead to deterioration of the nerve tissue, causing problems with central vision.
Symptoms: Decrease in central vision, which affects most daily functions such as reading and driving.
Diabetic retinopathy is brought on by diabetes, which causes abnormal growth and/or leakage of the retina’s blood vessels, potentially leading to blindness.
Symptoms: “Floaters” across the field of vision, and blurry vision are signs to watch for, especially if you know your loved one has diabetes.
Don’t Look the Other Way
It’s important to act quickly if your aging parents or loved ones are complaining about their eyesight, or if they’re showing signs of diminished vision. Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist who will perform a comprehensive eye exam to determine the problem This includes reading the eye chart, dilating the pupils, and measuring the eye pressure. Depending on what the tests reveal, the ophthalmologist will talk to you and your loved one about the following treatment options: eye drops, pills, a change in eyeglass prescription, traditional surgery, laser treatments, as well as low vision rehabilitation. Many of these conditions are treatable when diagnosed early, but vision loss may become permanent if they are not discovered in time.
What You Can Do to Help Your Parent Adapt
Vision loss seriously affects the quality of life. Your loved one will most likely experience a range of emotions, including grief and anger. It helps to let people talk out their feelings and to offer support and encouragement as they make their way toward acceptance.
There are also many practical ways you can help make life easier for your loved one who’s experiencing vision loss:
- Call on a low vision rehabilitation specialist, who can help with adaptation techniques and devices.
- Make sure there is adequate, non-glare lighting in every room.
- Avoid big contrasts in lighting, such as a bright single reading lamp in a dark room.
- Provide a pocket magnifying glass that has been prescribed by a doctor.
- Implement tactile clues, such as rubber bands around certain items to distinguish them from others, or sandpaper or felt dots to mark items.
- Buy large print books, calendars, phones, playing cards, etc.
- If your loved one has become legally blind, consider a guide dog.
Dr. John M. Boyer is the director of low vision rehabilitation services at the Evelyn L. Jones Low Vision Rehabilitation Center, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University. He earned his O.D. at Pacific University in Forest Grove and has specialized in the examination and care of children and adults with low vision for over 30 years. Dr. Boyer helps those with visual loss maximize the use of their remaining vision in order to live a full and independent lifestyle.
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