As seniors become older and certain faculties deteriorate, regular visits to the doctor and paying attention to changes become even more vital. That’s why it is important to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of eye disorders. If your senior has been suffering from dry eyes and low vision, it's time to learn about why this may be causing them irritation.
Understanding symptoms of dry eyes and low vision is one of the first things you should know. Some symptoms are:
- Keeping reading material at a greater distance
- Squinting
- Extra light is required to complete daily duties.
- Because of dry, irritated eyes, you're blinking a lot.
- Night vision problems that appear suddenly or worsen over time
- Complaints about eyesight spots, halos, or spidery lines
If your senior has been complaining to you about these problems, it is time to take them to the doctor to further understand what you can do. Companion care at home can observe abnormal behaviors and report back to you and their doctor, as well as provide transportation to important doctor and specialist appointments.
Learning About Dry Eye Disease
As people become older, many of them have dry eyes. Although dry eyes may be exceedingly unpleasant and even painful, they are not a life-threatening health issue. In most circumstances, dry eyes are simple to maintain or treat for seniors. Seniors should schedule frequent eye exams to treat issues like dry eyes before they worsen or create more severe eye illnesses. Dry eye treatment is also important for comfort and quality of life.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
You will find there are two main causes for dry eyes in seniors. They may have inadequate tears or not enough water in the tears. This could be due to underlying medical conditions that you are unaware of, side effects from new medication they are on, environment, or just from the natural aging process. Ruling our medication side effects and other medical conditions will be crucial when trying to treat a seniors dry eyes. This is another reason why a senior having communication with their doctor is so crucial.
Understanding Dry Eye Symptoms
Dryness is rather frequent in those over the age of 65. However, if your loved one has KCS or dry eye disease, they may also experience the following symptoms:
- Eye pain, burning, and irritation
- A scratchy or gritty sensation behind the eyelid
- They have the impression that something is in their eyes
- Vision that is blurry or damaged
Severe instances of dry eye may cause damage to the front surface of the eye, impairing vision. That is why, if you or a senior in your life notices persistent dry eyes, you should get treatment right once.