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Chapter 39 - Eye problems of the aged

from Section III - Care of the elderly by organ system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2016

By
Jessica L. Kalender-Rich ,
Michelle R. Boyce  and
Jason A. Sokol
Edited by
Jan Busby-Whitehead ,
Christine Arenson ,
Samuel C. Durso ,
Daniel Swagerty ,
Laura Mosqueda ,
Maria Fiatarone Singh  and
William Reichel
Jan Busby-Whitehead
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina
Christine Arenson
Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Samuel C. Durso
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Daniel Swagerty
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Laura Mosqueda
Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Maria Fiatarone Singh
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
William Reichel
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
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Summary

The management of ocular health in the rapidly aging United States population presents an ever expanding challenge to primary care providers, geriatricians and ophthalmologists alike. The United States defines visual impairment as vision with corrective lenses of worse than 20/40 but better than 20/200 in the better-seeing eye. Vision worse than 20/200 with corrective lens is the definition of legal blindness. Approximately 4.1 million Americans are visually impaired, and 1.2 million Americans 40 years and older are legally blind according to the most recent census. In a population-based study, the rate of visual impairment in individuals 80 years and older was 15 to 30 times greater than individuals 40-50 years old. In addition, because many eye diseases can be insidious in onset, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years in otherwise healthy individuals over age 65. Preventing blindness is an important factor in assisting the elderly to function autonomously and lead productive lives. Blinding disorders can cause significant personal, familial, and societal burdens.
Type
Chapter
Information
Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
 , pp. 564 - 576
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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