eye health and Visual care for the elderly

Eye health is an important part of overall health and well-being. Taking care of your eyes can help protect your vision, reduce the risk of developing certain eye diseases (cataracts and glaucoma), and even improve your quality of life.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world and it’s important to take steps to protect your eyes from this condition. Knowing your family’s eye health history is important because it tends to run in families. As people age, their vision can become impaired – not treating or addressing symptoms like headaches, blurred vision, intense eye pain and tenderness or itchiness around the eye can lead to severe conditions like blindness.

Some tips to keep your eyes healthy:

• Get regular eye tests
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun
• Include fish in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish.
• Nuts such as walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids.

The treatment options for glaucoma depend on the severity of the disease. In the early stages, eye drops can be prescribed and it’s also advised to protect the eyes from injury by wearing protective eyewear while playing sports or doing activities that could cause visual straining or injuries.

The NHS confirms that some people are eligible for free tests and glasses, such as:

• If you’re 40+ and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma
• Have been advised by an ophthalmologist
• Have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma

Furthermore retailers like Specsavers, Boots and Vision Express constantly advertise their free services for people over 65+, proper eye care should be taken seriously by everyone, but it is especially important for those in those who are older care home residents.

Find out more about free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers here.