Senior Eye Exams in British Columbia

Among the many physical changes, part and parcel of the aging process, are ones that affect your eye health and vision. In addition to developing presbyopia, which is difficulty reading the fine print, age-related eye diseases can also take a toll on your eyesight and quality of life.

According to statistics, by the age of 65, one in three seniors are affected by an eye condition that results in vision impairment.

With advancing age, your risk of eye disease significantly increases. In addition to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, the incidence of problems such as dry eye, floaters, and retinal detachment also occur with greater frequency in older adults. However, because the onset of many age-related eye diseases is slow and painless, most people are unaware of their presence.

The importance of annual exams for older adults

For all the above reasons, the American Optometric Association recommends annual eye examinations for everyone over the age of sixty. However, if you are at high risk or have been diagnosed with eye disease, you may need more frequent assessments and care. Of course, any sudden onset of symptoms or visual disturbances requires immediate evaluation and care.

As experienced doctors of optometry, we understand the evolving vision care needs that come with age. You can count on our office for skilled and integrated care to protect your eye health, preserve your vision, and manage age-related eye conditions. We use the latest technology and offer the leading options in care to help you enjoy optimal health and vision.

What to expect at your visit:

• As the first step in care, we’ll discuss your medical, eye health, and vision history. It’s essential to mention any family history of eye disease and the presence of conditions or medication use that may impact eye health and function.
• In addition to performing routine vision tests to evaluate how well you can see and determine an accurate vision prescription, we’ll also look for signs and symptoms of other vision problems and eye diseases.
• We’ll examine your eye anatomy and visual function, check the intraocular pressure, look at retinal health, assess how well your eyes work together, and assess any limitations to your field of vision.
• To get a better view of the back of the eye and its internal structures, we may perform a dilated eye exam. In this way, we can get a clearer look at the retina, small blood vessels, and the optic nerve. A dilated eye exam enables us to check for eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• Since your eyes can be an indicator of your overall health, we’ll also look for any warning signs of underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Every patient is different. In some cases, further testing and additional evaluation may be indicated.