Eye Care for Seniors
Vision changes are a normal part of the aging process, but they don’t have to compromise your lifestyle. Elmquist Eye Group provides eye care for seniors that address conditions that may lead to partial or complete loss of vision and affect your quality of life.
Dr. E. Trevor Elmquist is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and has been selected as one of America’s Top Doctors in ophthalmology by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. He has been providing exceptional eye care to the residents of Southwest Florida for over 25 years.
Dr. Kate Wagner, his partner, and Dr. Nina Burt, his associate, are board certified optometrists who provide complete eye care services. No matter what type of concern you may have about your eyes, our talented Elmquist Eye Group team offers a full range of vision care, from routine exams for glasses to bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery and treatment for sight-threatening conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
Aging and Vision Loss
Age-related vision impairment affects tens of millions of Americans, and the risk increases with each decade of life, starting around the age of 40. Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Eye Institute (NEI) show that:
- 36,882,000 Americans age 40 and older suffer from age-related eye diseases and vision impairment.
- Cataracts affect 20,000,000 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 75, 50% of white Americans have a cataract. By age 80, 70% of white Americans have a cataract compared with 53% of black Americans and 61% of Hispanic Americans.
- Diabetic retinopathy affects 5,300,000 Americans aged 18 and older. Hispanic Americans age 50 and older are at the highest risk for developing glaucoma. Among people age 75 and older, the disease affects 19% of Hispanic Americans compared with 7% of black and white Americans.
- Glaucoma affects 2,200,000 million Americans age 40 and older. Black Americans age 40 and older are at the highest risk compared with people of other races. By age 69, nearly 6% of black Americans have glaucoma, and their risk nearly doubles after age 80.
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects 1,600,000 Americans age 50 and older. The majority of AMD cases (89%) occur among white Americans, and the disease affects more than 14% of white Americans aged 80 and older.
- Only half of the estimated 61,000,000 American adults who are at high risk for serious vision loss visited an eye doctor in the past year.
Schedule an Eye Exam
The statistics make clear the importance of having regular comprehensive eye exams as we age in order to detect signs of serious vision problems and prevent vision loss. Many eye diseases have no warning signs. They may develop painlessly, and you may not be aware of changes in your vision until the condition has advanced.
The American Optometric Association recommends annual eye examinations for everyone over age 60. If, however, you have a family history of eye disease or diabetes, or are taking medications that could affect your eyesight, you may need more frequent exams. Talk to your eye doctor at Elmquist Eye Group to determine the best eye exam schedule for you.
Eye care for seniors has become increasingly important as millions of baby-boomers reach retirement age. The dedicated staff and doctors at Elmquist Eye Group are always happy to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have about your eyes. Get in touch with us today at (239) 936-2020 to schedule an appointment.