Thinking about Seeing the Solar Eclipse?

MediNurse, now in its fourth decade as the premier provider of private duty nursing care, emphasizes that if you’re planning to see the solar eclipse, you might want to have an eye exam first.

The solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 can be especially harmful for the elderly because pre-existing optical issues make them more susceptible to total vision loss if they do not take the necessary precautions before viewing the eclipse. Looking directly at the sun for even a second or two can cause irreparable damage to the retina.

Remember, the eye “tells a good story” about a person’s general health, with clues about high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This is clearly an opportune time to remind people to have their eyes checked: between the ages of 40-65, every 2-4 years; and for age 65 and over, every 1-2 years.

Common eye diseases for seniors 50 years and older are:

• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly.
• Cataracts- clouding of the lens in the eye; vision often appears cloudy or blurry
• Diabetic Eye Disease- stems from a complications of diabetes and is a leading cause of blindness
• Glaucoma- a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness; affects peripheral vision
• Dry Eye- occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the tears are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly.

If seniors have not had an eye exam in the past two years, contact your healthcare provider.

MediNurse is St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing services. MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.