The prevalence of visual impairment is high among the elderly population. Decreased visual acuity has significant repercussions on the functional capacity and quality of life of older adults.
Various organic changes commonly associated with aging can lead to a decrease in visual acuity. Low vision is reported as the third most significant chronic condition among the elderly, following arthritis and heart disease, and in some cases cannot be corrected by surgery, medical treatment, or conventional lenses, making rehabilitation the only recommended course of action.
Low vision is defined as a best-corrected visual acuity in the better eye of less than 20/60 and greater than or equal to 20/400, or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in the better eye with the best optical correction.
The most common vision problems affecting the elderly population are: cataracts, presbyopia, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Early diagnosis of these diseases is essential to prevent consequences such as blindness.
Presbyopia or age-related farsightedness
It typically appears around age 40 and is characterized by difficulty reading up close; the use of glasses is recommended.
Cataracts
Most common in people aged 60 and older, cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens—the crystalline lens—becomes cloudy, impairing vision and potentially leading to blindness. Cataracts account for 50% of cases of blindness.
Glaucoma
This disease causes damage to the optic nerve and can lead to irreversible blindness if not diagnosed in time.
Diabetic retinopathy
One of the common complications of diabetes, causing poor blood circulation in the retina and a loss of visual acuity. It affects 90% of people with diabetes who have had the disease for more than 20 years. The most common symptoms are blurred vision and sudden vision loss.
Macular degeneration
It occurs in people aged 60 and older, affecting the central area of the retina and causing low vision, which makes reading difficult. Other symptoms include: seeing wavy lines, distorted images, and dark or white spots in central vision.
In conclusion, improvements in visual function among older adults are directly related to their quality of life, as it is well established that older adults with better vision are more active, have a lower risk of falling, make fewer mistakes when taking their medications, and experience less depression and social isolation.