Introduction

Geriatric Essentials

• Age is an independent risk factor for many causes of vision loss, and all elderly people should be screened for ocular disorders at least once a year.
• Vision loss increases risk of falls, fractures, and social isolation.
• Atherosclerotic risk factors contribute to many ocular disorders; strict control of these factors (including smoking cessation) may halt progression of some disorders.
• Vision aids (eg, large-print books, magnifiers, high-power reading glasses, telescopic lenses, computer programs that scan text and read it out loud, talking clocks) are useful for patients with age-related macular degeneration and other types of vision loss.
• Elderly people are at higher risk of systemic adverse effects from topical drugs used for some ocular disorders.

Ocular disorders commonly affecting the elderly include cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, vascular and eyelid disorders, diplopia, and dry eyes. Healthy people > 60 should have their eyes evaluated once a year, primarily for glaucoma. Patients with other disorders, such as vascular disorders (eg, diabetes, hypertension), CNS disorders (eg, multiple sclerosis), or chronic ocular disorders (eg, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration), may need more frequent and detailed evaluation.

This topic was last updated May 2006.