Vision care can have a profound effect on the health and quality of life of residents of long term care facilities:
- The ability to perform activities of daily living is highly correlated to vision.
- Virtually all residents have at least one eye problem, with over half having two or more problems.
- Visual impairment is 13 to 15 times more common among nursing facility residents than others the same age.(1)
- Studies have found that up to 20% of residents showed marked improvement in vision after a complete eye examination.(2)
- Studies have also found that dispensing glasses to treat uncorrected refractive error lead to decreased levels of Geriatric Depression.(3)
- An eye examination can provide early detection of some general health issues.
(1) Swanson, OD, Achiron, OD et. Al. Optometric Care of Nursing Home Residents American Optometric Association Nursing Home and Geriatric Practice Committee Updated 2014.
(2) Koole, F. D., Polak Bc Fau – van der Heijde, G. L., van der Heijde Gl Fau – Zemel, D. A., Zemel
Da Fau – Breedijk, T. R., Breedijk Tr Fau – Tijmes, N. T., & Tijmes, N. T. (2001). “Improvement
of vision in nursing home patients through eyeglasses”. [Visusverbetering door brilcorrectie bij verpleeghuispatienten.]. Geronrol Geriatr, 32(5), 213-215.
(3) Owsley, C., McGwin, G., Jr., Scilley, K., Meek, G. C., Seker, D., & Dyer, A. (2007). Effect of refractive error correction on health-related quality of life and depression in older nursing home residents. Arch Ophthalmol, 125(11), 1471-1477. doi: 10.1001/archopht.125.11.1471