Dry eye is a common health condition that many elderly individuals suffer from. Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eye(s) are unable to produce enough tears or when the tears that are produced are evaporated before they can provide comfort and lubrication. Tears provide the nutrition, comfort, and protection the eyes need to stay healthy.
Dry Eye and Seniors
The elderly often suffer from dry eye symptoms more often than younger individuals because of their age. As a person ages, the tear glands change, hormones fluctuate, and environmental irritation increases. For many elderly who are unable to communicate clearly, it’s up to their home care and family caregivers to notice if they are suffering from dry eye syndrome.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye syndrome often causes different symptoms for different individuals. These are key symptoms for you or her home care provider should watch for or discuss with your elderly loved one to determine if she has dry eyes.
- Bloodshot or red eyes.
- Irritation on the skin around the eyes. It may be inflamed. Your loved one may complain about an itchiness, burning, or stinging sensation in her eyes.
- Your loved one may complain about her eyes feeling gritty.
- Consistently tearing up. Dry eye syndrome may cause your loved one to have excessive tearing in her eyes as they try to compensate for dry eyes.
- Your loved one might experience temporary blurred vision when trying to focus on a nearby screen or trying to read a book.
- If you notice your loved one seems overly sensitive to bright light.
Dry Eye Causes in the Elderly
Dry eye is common in many older individuals and the reasons for dry eye are varied. Several factors may contribute to a higher risk of your loved one developing dry eye syndrome.
- Changing hormones. For women who go through menopause, the change in hormone levels can increase the risk of dry eye. Lower estrogen levels reduce the quality and effectiveness of the tears being produced.
- Tear glands become less efficient as a person ages. They produce fewer tears, and the tears they produce are often lower quality, resulting in dry, itchy eyes.
- Medications. Some medications like antihistamines and some anti-depressant medications can cause dry eye.
- Sensitivity to environmental conditions. As your loved one ages, her eyes become more sensitive to environmental factors that may reduce her eye’s ability to produce tears. Dry and windy conditions, a fan blowing directly in her face, or an overheated room can all create dry eyes if your loved one is exposed to these factors for a longer period.
- Blinking slows down as we age. Older adults blink less often and have more incomplete blinks, leading to less tear production and dryer eyes.
Home Tips to Reduce Dry Eyes
After having your loved one visit her optometrist, you can work with her home care provider to make the home more friendly to her dry eyes by eliminating the triggers that make them worse.
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air so her eyes won’t dry out from forced heat. Your loved one’s home care provider can help with the humidifier’s upkeep and maintenance to prevent mold growth.
- Eliminate any smoking from the home.
- Remind her to take extra breaks from screen time or reading to give her eyes a rest.
- Encourage hydration to keep fluid levels where they should be.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in San Francisco, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400
Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.
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