Senior Eye Exams at Our Yakima Optometry Clinic

Age may bring wisdom, but it can also bring infirmity. As you get older, your body naturally encounters more challenges to its health, well-being and function. The eyes are no exception to these developments. If you’re concerned about deteriorating vision or your increased vulnerability to sight-stealing eye diseases after age 60, then you’ll want to visit Yakima Vision Center. Our Yakima optometry clinic provides annual senior eye exams to help you forestall common age-related eye and vision problems.

Challenges Faced by Senior Eyes

You may have noticed your eyes undergoing age-related changes as early as age 40, when the lenses grow stiffer to produce presbyopia. But a variety of other issues may begin brewing in your 50s and 60s. Senior eyes are at risk for:

  • Macular degeneration – This progressive deterioration of the macula, which tends to develop during the senior years, robs you of your central vision.
  • Glaucoma – Glaucoma risks rise after age 60. This condition destroys the optic nerves that relay images to the brain.
  • Dry eye – Aging is the common cause of dry eye, which can expose your corneas to infection and ulceration.
  • Cataracts – Most seniors develop some degree of cataracts eventually. This thickening of lens puts up a cloudy barrier to clear vision.
  • Diabetic retinopathy – While anyone can get diabetes, older people are at higher risk. High blood sugar can destroy the delicate blood vessels that keep the retinal tissues functioning.

The Need for Senior Eye Exams

The American Optometric Association that everyone aged 60 or older receive a comprehensive eye exam each year. This close scrutiny allows our eye doctor to keep a close lookout for the earliest signs of irreversible eye diseases or sight-threatening disorders. While the basic components of this exam — visual acuity testing, eye function testing, and eye health evaluation — are the same as those employed for younger adults, we place an extra emphasis on spotting and catching those particular ailments likely to bother senior eyes. If trouble is found, our eye doctor can immediately prescribe solutions such as:

  • Remedies to help dry eyes retain more moisture
  • Dietary, lifestyle, and medical treatments for macular degeneration
  • Medications to control glaucoma
  • Cataract treatment through preventative lifestyle changes, corrective lenses, or co-management of cataract surgery
  • Diabetes control recommendations and other treatments for diabetic retinopathy

Schedule a Senior Eye Exam with Our Yakima Optometrist

No matter what your age, there’s so much more in this world to see — so make sure you can see it as well as possible. Call Yakima Vision Center at (509) 965-5200 for a senior eye exam with our optometrist!