Q. My wife and I are in our mid-70s, and our daughter keeps hounding us to schedule an eye exam. She was mortified to learn that we haven’t been to the optometrist since 2019. In the past, my wife and I saw our optometrist every other year. Since our last eye appointment, I’ve retired and COVID hit the world. My wife and I sort of got out of the habit of scheduling annual physicals and other medical appointments. We’re in decent health and we haven’t noticed any changes in our vision. We both had our physicals this past spring and received a clean bill of health (barring the suggestion to lose 10 pounds). I don’t see the point in scheduling an eye exam until something changes in my vision. My daughter seems to think it’s important, nonetheless. Can you help us settle our debate?
A. First of all, congratulations on your retirement and your clean bill of health. It sounds like you and your wife are living an active lifestyle to receive such good news. I also want to congratulate you on raising such a passionate daughter. You are extremely fortunate to have someone to look out for your best interests, especially as you grow older.
Unfortunately, I must side with your daughter on this particular issue. Eye exams are essential for all older adults, even when you haven’t experienced any changes in your vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that adults over the age of 65 have a complete eye exam every one to two years.
There are several reasons why regular eye exams are important for older adults. Most older adults are unaware that their eye doctor can detect more than just changes in their vision during an eye exam. Other common health conditions can be identified when an eye doctor takes a closer look into the depths of your eyes. The eye can reveal high blood pressure, diabetes, and conditions linked to certain autoimmune diseases. It’s not uncommon for an eye doctor to detect chronic health conditions that your primary care physician may have missed.
Even though you and your wife recently received a clean bill of health, your physician cannot detect changes in your vision. Older adults are at risk for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal tearing, and glaucoma. When your eye doctor dilates your eyes, they can take a closer look at your optic nerve and retina so they can assess and evaluate. They can then determine if there are any problems and provide treatment to prevent further damage.
One of the most important reasons why older adults need regular eye exams is to prevent certain eye conditions that are common with age. While not all vision decline is avoidable, some vision decline can be prevented or delayed with an annual eye exam. Early intervention is key to treating some eye conditions, such as glaucoma, to prevent further vision loss, including blindness. I highly recommend, as your daughter has nudged, that you and your wife schedule an annual eye exam this week. As I mentioned earlier, you truly are fortunate to have such an advocate on your side.
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