Taking Care of Your Eyes at Ages 55-64 by Puneet Panda, M.D.

Your vision is an essential part of your quality of life. Although most vision loss can be prevented if caught early, many people don’t get eye exams as often as recommended. Proper preventative care will give you the upper hand in the effort to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear.

Advice for Most People Ages 55-64

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends comprehensive eye exams at least every 1 to 3 years for people between the ages of 55 and 64 who have no symptoms of eye disease and see clearly. During comprehensive eye exams, optometrists and ophthalmologists check for damage from chronic health conditions such as diabetes and check for eye diseases that can lead to blindness, such as glaucoma and cataracts. You may not notice symptoms of some eye diseases until they have advanced. The more advanced an eye disease, the more challenging it can be to slow progression or prevent permanent visual damage. Regular eye exams help you and your eye doctor detect potential eye diseases at their earliest stage possible, when they are the most treatable.

See Dr. Panda’s Full Bio Here

People Ages 55-64 Who May Need Eye Exams More Often

A variety of factors affect your eye health, so the above guidance may not be ideal for your eyes. Here are a few reasons an optometrist or ophthalmologist may recommend that you have eye exams more frequently:

• You wear glasses or contact lenses.
• You have a family history of eye disease or loss of vision.
• You have a chronic disease that puts you at greater risk of eye disease, such as diabetes.
• You take medications that may have serious eye-related side effects, such as prednisone or plaquenil.

If any of the above is true for you, you may benefit from scheduling comprehensive eye exams more frequently.

Don’t Put Off Scheduling an Appointment

Routine eye exams have been proven to help combat eye disease, visual impairment, and total blindness. Keep in mind the guidance above and ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist for their recommended frequency of comprehensive eye exams if you meet any of the criteria. Being proactive could save your vision.

More About Comprehensive Ophthalmologist Puneet Panda, M.D.

Dr. Panda is an ophthalmologist at the Marietta Eye Clinic who specializes in dry eye, cataracts, LASIK, and cornea, in addition to offering comprehensive ophthalmic care. Dr. Panda graduated from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in biological and environmental engineering. He received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and completed his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He completed his fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery from the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Read more about Dr. Panda here.

References and Additional Resources

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. It describes itself as a “global community of 32,000 medical doctors who protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public.” Its website is a great resource to learn more about how to care for your eyes.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) describes itself as the leading authority on quality care and an advocate for our nation’s health, representing more than 44,000 doctors of optometry, optometric professionals, and optometry students.

Eye Exam

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/eye-exam/about/pac-20384655

Eye Exam and Vision Testing Basics

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101

Frequency of Ocular Examinations – 2015

https://www.aao.org/clinical-statement/frequency-of-ocular-examinations