respite care in Topeka

If you feel as though newspaper print keeps getting smaller and smaller as we grow older, you’re not alone! Lots of us find ourselves struggling to read the fine print, so to speak – holding written materials at arm’s length, putting on reading glasses, or making use of a magnifier.

Though not everyone endures vision complications in aging, there are some conditions that are more prevalent than others. It’s important for all of us to visit the eye doctor on an annual basis, regardless if any changes in vision are encountered, as a preventative measure and to allow the doctor to detect any of the more serious conditions as early as possible, such as:

  • Retinopathy: Retinopathy can arise in individuals with diabetes, which can result in a leak or blockage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. It’s important to know too that diabetes is the top cause of blindness, making it especially vital for diabetics to stick to ongoing, regular checkups with the eye doctor, and to be meticulous in their management of the disease.
  • Macular Degeneration: As the name implies, this condition occurs when the tiny macula in the eye proceeds to break down, resulting in distorted eyesight when looking straight ahead. Surgical treatment can help in some cases, but it’s important for people diagnosed with macular degeneration to learn about and employ tactics to most efficiently utilize their remaining peripheral vision. Macular degeneration does not lead to full blindness.
  • Glaucoma: Glaucoma causes elevated fluid pressure in the eye, leading to damage to the optic nerve, and can create blindness, in particular if left undetected. Treatment options may include surgery and/or eye drops to keep vision loss from progressing.
  • Cataracts: Extremely prevalent in older individuals, cataracts are the result of clouding of the lens, and can be rectified with a simple, safe, and effective replacement of the cloudy lens with a new, clear synthetic lens.

If encountering any of the symptoms below, seek medical assistance right away:

  • Sudden onset of vision loss which can potentially indicate the presence of retinal detachment, a hemorrhage, stroke, or other serious issue.
  • A crossed eye or double vision, either of which can be the result of a neurological problem such as a stroke.
  • Eye pain can be because of an infection, abrasion, elevated eye pressure, or other serious concern. When pain occurs with nausea, vomiting, headache or the appearance of halos surrounding lights, it may be caused by acute glaucoma.
  • Light flashes can occur from a detaching retina.
  • Sudden discharge from the eye or redness in one or both eyes occurs when the eye is infected.

Grace Home Care, providers of top respite care in Topeka, is always on hand to assist older individuals in achieving optimum eye health. We can provide transportation to medical appointments, procedures, and checkups, track any changes in eye health so that they’re addressed right away, reduce the risk of falls in the home for those with vision problems, and so much more.

Call us at 708-286-2273 to request a free in-home evaluation to learn more and to find out if our services are available in your area.