Why Seniors Are At Risk For Eye Diseases

By 2031, seniors will represent 22.9 per cent of Ontario’s population compared to 15.4 per cent today. By 2031:

1. Ocular complications from diabetes is projected to increase by 15 per cent.

2. Advanced macular degeneration prevalence is projected to increase by 40 per cent.

3. Glaucoma prevalence is projected to increase by 23 per cent.

4. Cataract prevalence is projected to increase by 32 per cent.

One out of every three seniors in Ontario will have some form of vision-reducing eye disease.

Vision problems in Ontario’s most fragile people have been shown to:

1. Double the difficulties with activities of daily living.

2. Double the risk of falls.

3. Triple the risk of depression.

4. Quadruple the risk of hip fracture.

5. Double social dependence.

6. Increase medication errors and increase difficulty with daily living.

Solution:

Despite these alarming statistics and all the information that’s available to us, only 43 per cent of people over the age of 65 actually receive an annual eye exam, which is the most effective way to detect early signs of eye disease.