Senior Adults

Adults: Over 60 Years of Age

It's a fact of life that vision changes occur as you get older. But these changes don't have to compromise your lifestyle. Knowing what to expect and when to seek professional care are important steps to safeguarding your vision.

As you reach your 60s and beyond, you need to be attentive to warning signs of age-related eye health problems that could cause vision loss. Many eye diseases have no early symptoms. They may develop painlessly and you may not be aware of changes to your vision until the condition is quite advanced. But wise lifestyle choices and regular eye exams can significantly improve your chances of maintaining good eye health even as you age.

You may not realize that health problems affecting other parts of your body can affect your vision as well. Individuals with diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure), or taking medications that have eye-related side effects, are at greatest risk for developing vision problems.

Therefore, regular eye exams are even more important as you reach your senior years. The American Optometric Association recommends annual eye examinations for everyone over age 60. See your doctor of optometry immediately if you notice any changes in your vision.

"Good Vision Throughout Life"  www.aoa.org  American Optometric Association n.d. Web. 20 April 2010

 

Adults

Adults: 41-60 Years of Age

If you are between the ages of 40 and 60, you've probably noticed changes in your vision. Difficulty seeing clearly for reading and close work is among the most common problems adults develop between ages 41 to 60. However, this is also the time when other changes in your eyes can start to affect your work and enjoyment of life.

Beginning in the early to mid-forties, most adults may start to experience problems with their ability to see clearly at close distances, especially for reading and computer tasks. This normal aging change in the eye's focusing ability, called presbyopia, will continue to progress over time.

Initially, you may find you need to hold reading materials farther away to see them clearly. Print in the newspaper or on a restaurant menu may appear blurred, especially under dim lighting. If you already wear prescription glasses or contact lenses to see clearly in the distance, the near vision changes caused by presbyopia can bring about the need to use bifocal or multifocal lenses. If you are nearsighted, you may have discovered that you now need to remove you glasses to see better up close. Fortunately, people with presbyopia now have many options to improve their ability to see well.

Along with the onset of presbyopia, an increase in the incidence of eye health problems occurs during these years. Whether or not there is a need for eyeglasses, adults should be examined for signs of developing eye and vision problems. A comprehensive eye examination is recommended at least every two years. Don't rely on an insufficient substitute like the limited driver's license vision test or other vision screenings to determine if you have an eye or vision problem.

Adults over 40 may be particularly at risk for the development of eye and vision problems if any of the following exist:

• Chronic, systemic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
• A family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration.
• A highly visually demanding job or work in an eye-hazardous occupation.
• Health conditions like high cholesterol, thyroid conditions, anxiety or depression, and arthritis for which you take medications. Many medications, even antihistamines, have ocular side-effects.

The American Optometric Association recommends that adults between the ages of 40 and 60 have an eye examination at least every two years, however please schedule an appointment today if you are experiencing any difficulty with your vision.

"Good Vision Throughout Life" www.aoa.org American Optometric Association n.d. Web. 20 April 2010

Young Adults

Most adults, aged 19 to 40, enjoy healthy eyes and good vision. The most common eye and vision problems experienced by people in this age group are due to visual stress and eye injuries. By taking proper steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle and protect your eyes from stress and injury, you can avoid many eye and vision problems.

Good vision is important as you pursue a college degree, begin your career, or perhaps start and raise a family. Here are some things you can do to help maintain healthy eyes and good vision:

• Eat Healthy — As part of a healthful diet, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Choose foods rich in antioxidents like leafy, green vegetables and fish.
  
  
• Don't Smoke — Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of noxious chemicals and increases the risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
  
  
• Get Regular Exercise — Exercise improves blood circulation, increases oxygen levels to the eyes and aids in the removal of toxins.
  
  
• Wear Sunglasses — Protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays when outdoors. Choose sun glasses with UVA and UVB protection, to block both forms of ultraviolet rays.
  
  
• Get Periodic Eye Examinations — Although vision generally remains stable during these years, some problems may develop without any obvious signs or symptoms. The best way to protect your vision is through regularly scheduled professional eye examinations.

The American Optometric Association recommends that adults aged 19 to 40 receive an eye exam at least every two years. If you are at risk for eye problems due to a family history of eye disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or past vision problems, your doctor of optometry may recommend more frequent exams. In between examinations, if you notice a change in your vision, contact your doctor. Detecting and treating problems early can help maintain good vision for the rest of your life.

"Good Vision Throughout Life"  www.aoa.org American Optometric Association n.d. Web. 20 April 2010

Children & Teenagers

Recommended Eye Examination Frequency for Pediatric Patients from the American Optometric Association:

Recommended Examination Frequency For the Pediatric Patient

Patient Age                                             Examination Interval

Birth to 24 Months                                    At 6 months of age

2 to 5 years                                                At 3 years of age

6 to 18 years                                              Before first grade and every two years thereafter

*Children considered to be at risk for the development of eye and vision problems may need additional testing or more frequent re-evaluation.

York Family Eyecare recognizes the special needs of children. Dr. Pelletier will gladly assess the vision of infants through two years of age at no charge. He is able to assess how well an infant is focusing using both eyes and using a scope to assess how well the infant is seeing, as well as the general health of the eyes. This exam can be done with the child securely in its parent’s arms.

It is extremely beneficial for all children to have a comprehensive eye exam before starting kindergarten. This is so important, that Dr. Pelletier volunteers at local schools to do visual screenings of children entering kindergarten. Learning is very demanding and visually complex. Issues beyond how well a child sees can affect their learning. For example, the ability of the eyes to work together and the amount of effort that requires can greatly affect a child’s ability to learn to read.

It is recommended school age children have yearly eye exams right up through college. So much can change in a year, especially with the extensive use of computers. Sports also factor into visual needs as does the visual changes caused by normal growth and development.

If your child is having learning difficulties, it is very important to have their eyes examined. Many learning difficulties can be overcome by the use of glasses and/or visual training.

"Good Vision Throughout Life" www.aoa.org American Optometric Association n.d. Web. 20 April 2010