My husband with Alzheimer’s may need cataract surgery or new glasses. He can’t always name letters and gets confused. How do I handle that?

Go to the eye doctor and just give it a try. Cataracts can be seen by the eye doctor without the patient having to read a chart. Tell the doctor about your concern about him possibly rubbing his eyes. They may have something they can put on the eye, or maybe clear glasses to wear while healing and keep his hand from getting directly to the eye so quickly.

If there's no way to do cataract surgery, it's very difficult to get a good pair of prescription glasses because of the cataracts. Trust me, I've tried for myself. I put off the surgery because of covid and my glasses no longer work for long distance. . .AT ALL. I happened to try on an old pair (that actually belonged to someone else) and found I could use those to drive. My old progressive lenses still work for reading. If his don't, try some varying strengths of readers.

I would definitely call your doctor and tell him your concerns. Let them explain when and why surgery for cataracts needs to be done. That office should also contact the eye surgeon you have selected to them them know of the problem. They will need this information so that they can get your husband through the surgery (which is often performed under a local..... yes, it is weird to feel that you are underneath glass and watching it being shattered) and post op exams.
Good luck in your journey.

Eloise46, since small children are able to get glasses without knowing all the letters, the same can be done for an adult who can't name the letters. The eye doctor will know how to handle this when you bring up the subject.

You let the examining doctor know your concerns. He will arrange to do the exam differently than he normally would. It is crucial now to be examined for the eyes in terms of any chronic problems that come for elderly (macular degeneration and cataract and glaucoma only a few of those). It is crucial with cataract surgery that you speak with the doctor about how to handle to post op problems as well. Wishing you good luck.

My husband had a massive stroke at 48, which left him unable to speak well, or read, so when it came time for his eye exams, thankfully we had a kind and patient optometrist, who figured out what to do. He would only use the eye charts that had the E's on them. Some E's would be pointing down, some sideways, and some up. He would have my husband point with his one good hand, which way the E's were going. That worked very well for my husband, and we never had an issue with his glasses.

I cannot speak much to the cataract surgery, as I never had to deal with that, other than to say, that I would perhaps put that off as long as possible, and maybe just keep getting him stronger glasses, as his eyes get worse. I wish you the best.