Summertime can be a time when your elderly family member experiences more dry eye issues than normal. That can have to do with a variety of factors ranging from dry inside air to dehydration and other causes.
Anybody Can Experience Dry Eyes
Some people are more prone to dry eyes than other people are, but anyone can experience dry eyes. The eyes are sensitive parts of the body and they can change quite a bit with age. Your elderly family member may never have had issues with dry eyes in the past, but now she may find that her eyes are less comfortable in drier air or at certain times. Medications can also have an impact on dry eyes.
Your Senior May Not Notice, Though
Dry eye is a very subtle condition for most people. It’s not always noticeable that eyes are dry until they truly feel scratchy or irritated. Your elderly family member may complain that it hurts when she blinks or that she’s got a burning sensation in her eyes. Any type of irritation in your elderly family member’s eyes is something that you need to pay attention to right away.
Get Your Senior in to See Her Eye Doctor
The first step in figuring out what’s causing dry eyes is to talk to your senior’s eye doctor. An amazing amount of eye issues can cause dry eyes or can have that as a symptom. Narrowing down potential issues can help you to address everything, not just the dry eyes. Make sure that your elderly family member is seeing her eye doctor as often as recommended. Some eye doctors like to see older adults a little more often, just to ensure that they’re on top of possible issues.
Solving Dry Eye Can Involve a Few Techniques
Your senior may benefit from a few different treatment options. If her dry eye is a result of a health issue or a medication side effect, her doctor or her eye doctor may have recommendations. Drops or ointments, both prescription and over-the-counter versions, may be helpful. Proper hydration matters a lot. If your senior isn’t drinking enough water, she may need to bump up her intake a little bit.
Your elderly family member may need a little extra help dealing with some of the solutions that get suggested to her. Senior care providers can make the task a lot easier and can help her to balance her nutrition and protect her eyes.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Care in Verona, WI please contact the caring staff at Agape Senior Services Madison today. (608) 841-1004
