Seniors

As America grows older, the demand for eye care is increasing.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2020, there were 56 million Americans aged 65.  By 2050, that number is expected to grow to 84 million, with 19 million of those age 85 or older. As people age, regular eye exams and corrective lenses are key to maintaining vision, overall health, and independence.

Who needs the most eye care? Seniors. Why? Most people with serious eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration (ARMD) are seniors. So, what’s the problem? The cost of eye care. Many seniors neglect their eye care and vision problems because they have low or fixed incomes or inadequate vision insurance.

The health of your eyes and vision are always changing, and as you age, differences in how well you see become more apparent. As important as annual eye exams* are throughout life, they become much more important as you age. In addition to yearly eye exams, seniors should have their eyes and prescription checked anytime there is a change in their vision.

The prevalence of blindness and vision impairment increases rapidly with age among all racial and ethnic groups, particularly among people older than 75 years. Cases of early age-related macular degeneration are expected to double by 2050, from 9.1 million to 17.8 million for those aged 50 years or older.  Cases of diabetic retinopathy among people aged 65 or older are expected to quadruple by 2050, from 2.5 million to 9.9 million.  National studies indicate that vision loss is associated with higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, death, falls and injuries, depression, and social isolation.  When combined with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, vision loss is associated with overall poorer health among people aged 65 or older. Vision loss compromises people’s quality of life because it reduces their capacity to read, drive a car, watch television, or keep personal accounts. Often, it isolates older people and keeps them from friends and family.