Although most people are aware that vision may change with age, they may not know which changes are considered normal and which require an exam to determine a course of treatment. As for your patient’s age, it’s important to educate them so they can maintain healthy vision as long as possible.

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Patients may develop presbyopia, oftentimes in their forties. When this happens, they will begin to struggle with close-up vision, especially during low light conditions. While this is a natural occurrence as the lens of the eye loses its flexibility, it may frighten some of your patients. Rather than buying inexpensive reading glasses that may not be the right strength for their condition, you should encourage them to visit your office for an eye exam using diagnostic instruments to rule out more serious conditions, at which time, they can be properly fit for corrective lenses that are the right prescription.

Although these conditions can happen at any age, AMD, glaucoma and cataracts are more common as people enter their sixties. Since these eye diseases often require early treatment to mitigate vision loss, it’s essential to inform your patients of possible signs, and encourage them to book an appointment with you as soon as possible.

As always, your patients should be encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes maintaining a proper diet to help their eyesight. Encourage your patients to eat foods rich in lutein, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E.

Using a tool such as optomap as part of a comprehensive annual exam, can help you diagnose eye diseases much earlier and with a less invasive procedure since dilation isn’t necessary. Initial images can be used as a benchmark for patients you feel may be at risk for developing conditions that are more serious.

Optos would like to help provide the best care for your patients. Contact us to learn more about the options available for your practice.