Dry eyes are not a comfortable problem, but even so your senior might wait a while before letting you know she’s having trouble. She might figure there’s nothing that can be done about dry eye, but she’d be off base a bit.
More People Experience Dry Eyes than You Might Think
Dry eye is a lot more common than most people think. Even if your senior never had dry eyes in the past, she can develop dry eyes now. Her eyes may stop developing tears, either through the aging process or because of medication side effects. It’s a situation that you and she need to stay on top of because she doesn’t have to be uncomfortable because of her dry eyes.
Your Senior Might Not Think Her Eyes Are Dry
It’s also entirely possible that your senior doesn’t realize her eyes are dry. Sometimes dry eyes feel more as if there’s something in the eye causing irritation. Your senior might describe her eyes as feeling itchy or as if there’s something causing pain in her eyes. Regardless of the changes that she’s feeling, you need to talk to her doctor or to her eye doctor right away to determine what is going on.
Treatment Options Are Plentiful
The good news is that there might be way more that your senior can do about her dry eyes than she thinks. Sometimes dietary changes, like increasing the amount of water she drinks, can make a huge difference. If medication side effects are causing the problem, adjusting or changing the medication can help. Or there may be supplements your senior can take, like omega-3 fatty acids. Her doctor may ask your senior to try a few different things, even including using a humidifier.
Her Eye Doctor Can Help
You might start out with seeing your senior’s regular doctor first, but her eye doctor can help, too. If your elderly family member hasn’t been having regular eye exams, that’s a good place to start. Any new symptoms could be related to an eye disease and it’s important to address those changes as quickly as possible.
There might be a lot your senior needs to do in order to get her dry eye situation under control. Eye drops, dietary changes, and keeping up with humidity levels can all factor in. Senior care providers can help her and you to keep the situation moving toward improvement.
Excerpt: Dry eye can be a big deal, so it’s important to get a handle on it for your senior.
If you or an aging loved one needs Senior Care in Roseville, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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