Seniors Eye Exams

Vision Services

Seniors Have Unique Eyecare Needs

Eye care and eye exams change as we get older for many reasons. Genetics and declining health can have an impact on vision and eye health. Managing the effects of presbyopia, as well as screening for eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, become more important as we age. Eye health should be a top priority for all seniors. Working together, it is our goal to work to preserve vision for your lifetime.

The Optovue OCT and the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer are two pieces of advanced technology used in our office to detect eye problems years before traditional diagnostic methods. This innovative, fast, and pain-free technology gives us a look at the microscopic health of your eyes.

Seniors Should Have Eye Exams Every Year

The American Optometric Association recommends that senior citizens have annual eye exams. Changes in vision happen more rapidly with age, and having your eyes assessed regularly will ensure that any eye diseases or conditions that may influence vision are diagnosed and treated before they cause vision loss.

During the Eye Exam

The eye exam is broken down into two parts:

1. Diagnostic data collection, which is completed by an Eye Care Technician
2. Vision and eye health evaluation, which is completed by a Doctor of Optometry

The Diagnostic data collection involves non-invasive technology, including:

  • Autorefraction and keratometry
  • Retinal photography
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Visual field analysis
  • Tonometry, using a “no puff” tonometer to check your eye pressure

Dr. Jones will then perform a thorough evaluation that includes:

  • A visual examination to determine the prescription for glasses and contact lenses
  • A health exam to evaluate the overall health of the eye as it relates to the entire body

Dr. Jones may perform additional tests as needed.

What We Look for In The Eye Exam

Our eye exams serve two functions:

1. To determine how well you can see, and
2. To look for signs of developing diseases and other conditions that may influence your vision.

During the exam, we measure your corrective lens prescription to ensure that you are enjoying clear vision with glasses or contact lenses

Seniors are more likely to develop a vision-impairing eye disease such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. For this reason, our eye exams are comprehensive to allow sufficient monitoring of eye health.

Managing Presbyopia

Presbyopia develops in our early forties and continues to progress as we get older. It is the result of the hardening and loss of flexibility of the eye’s natural lens. As these properties change, the eye can no longer focus properly. This makes up-close tasks like reading difficult. Presbyopia can be managed successfully with corrective lenses.

At eyeSMILE Vision, we will determine the level of vision correction needed and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses that properly correct presbyopia. Lenses with multiple focusing powers are available in both eyeglasses and contact lenses, allowing you to use the same lens for both distance and near vision.

Diagnosing and Managing Eye Disease

Unfortunately, our eyes are not always the best at telling us when something is wrong. Many eye diseases cause little to no symptoms until late stages of the disease process so detecting them before they influence your vision is key. Our practice uses some of the most advanced technology available in eye care today. By working together, we can reduce the influence that many eye diseases have on permanent vision loss.