Has anyone taken someone with dementia to the eye doctor?

Question

Has anyone taken someone with dementia to the eye doctor?

Follow

Share

44 Answers

Don't misunderstand "weeping" eyes. When we have dry eyes, they will often weep but the tears are not "quality" tears and have no lubricating effect on the eye. When the eye is dry it has trouble focusing. I have been using OTC drops for years. I personally use Genteal. My doctor recommended Genteal or Refresh Tears because neither have any preservatives and after trying both I prefer Genteal. And, as has been said, she needs to be checked for diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc. all of which effect eyesight and most can be treated. Good luck.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Quite the informative afternoon. I started calling for appointments. Turns out mom was diagnoised with minor cataracts about two years ago - which she chose to do nothing about. So mom has an appointment with the Doctor that did the original diagnosis. Not sure what will happen if he says the cataracts are much worse. Also have an appointment for new glasses two weeks after the first appointment. Guess it makes sense to do it this way - can always cancel the glasses appointment if the real issue is the cataracts.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

My husband had cataract surgery about midway through his dementia. It made a gigantic difference in his quality of life!

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

I took my MIL to the eye doctor last Fall to check on her glaucoma and her cataract implants. Here is my advice: 1) Find an eye doctor who is familiar with dementia and it's impact. I talked with my doctor before taking her and fortunately his MIL also had dementia so he knew exactly how to handle her. 2) Make sure you are in the room with her. Technology now exists to "read" the eyes which eliminates some of the "which is better" but there is no doubt that it is a frustrating process. You will have to mediate between your loved one and the eye tech who might not be as understanding. In the end the best advice I can provide is to make sure your doctor and his staff understand dementia and it's challenges. That made all the difference for us and we got through the exam and were able to fix a problem with her cornea implants and she was able to see better.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

I have. My late Mother's retinologist funneled $800,000.00 into a "faux" fund, but she didn't care because she liked to socialize with him at appointments even though he was a felon!

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

LKB, you said both cataract and cornea implants...did she have both?

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Yes, I know exactly how hard it is to cope with, my gram was having a more difficult time reading and I went round and round with the eye doctors being as she has macular degeneration and glaucoma, but was also diagnosed with Alzheimer's with mild dementia. Unfortunately it wasn't her eyes but her ability to understand the written word. My sympathy, I couldn't possibly describe the challenge it is to care for someone with those conditions. Consider medications for the Alzheimer's, in my experience it does help. I won't say it can reverse any damage done but it does slow it.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Debdaughter, my BIL justhad both done. Cornia transplant and cateracts. Cateracts is making a slit taking out the old lens and putting in a new contact type lens. Cornia transplant is just that, a new cornia replaces the old one.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

My nephew was fitted for glasses at 8 months. I asked how they could determine he needed them when he couldn't do the test. I was told its the way light refracs off the eye. Once he put on those glasses he never took them off.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Joann, why was asking; my mom had both done as well - so I do know the difference - why did your bil have to have a cornea transplant?

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

My father had his first cataract surgery after my mother died in 2004. When the lens was removed, the membrane ruptured and then healed - which they tell me sometimes happens - but he carried with him the idea that it wasn't successful; which wasn't true, his final eyesight was 20-40. Then the other eye developed a worse cataract significantly affecting his vision, which he blamed on the first surgery, so it took me (and the doc) 11 years to convince him to have the second surgery. 3 weeks of preparation with eye drops and every day he thought it was the day of surgery. Finally the day arrived, we showed up at 8:30 am as scheduled, doc came out to greet him before surgery, surgery successful and when I went to see him, he didn't really understand why he was there. Had 4 teeth filled the other day and didn't know it either.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

I took my grandma to the eye doctor just last month. She had catarats years ago so medicare pays for her eye exams once a year. I was really worried as she has a 3rd grade level of reading having dropped out of school at that age and has severe dementia. She was able to read the letters to the lady and did a fine job of it. I asked the lady what happens when people can't do letters. She smiled and said she had pediatric charts with shapes that might work well for them if they can remember those. She said that dementia patients often can handle the charts until much much later in the disease and then the eye charts aren't necessary as they are bed ridden by then.

I'm sure it will go well. My mom used a natural light that contained a magnifying glass that was held up for her. She used it for sewing. She got it as Joann fabrics. It worked wonderfully. Maybe that will help her.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

we got one for mom, too; very nice

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

First, Medicare pays for all eye examines once a year. Doesn't pay for eye dialation, lenses or frames. Moms Dr. wants to see her once a year for any changes. This year a stroke is in question since she no longer sees from the side on her left eye. Tomorrow she goes for a light test to confirm the stroke. Since she doesn't take instruction well, not sure how this will go. She has to push a button when she sees a light.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

1 2

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

Has anyone taken someone with dementia to the eye doctor?

44 Answers

Recent Questions

Popular Questions

Related Questions