Eye care in the elderly.

BACKGROUND

Eye disease and visual impairment are common in the elderly and are associated with social and functional decline, the need to access community support services, depression, falls, nursing home placement and increased mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To provide guidance for general practitioners in the detection and recommended management of the most important eye conditions in the elderly in Australia: refractive error, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

DISCUSSION

Timely detection and treatment of eye disease can greatly reduce its morbidity. Elderly patients should be encouraged to undergo eye testing every 2 years. Health professionals, including general practitioners, optometrists and ophthalmologists should work collaboratively to ensure patients have access to appropriate disease detection and treatment.