How important are eye exams for adults with developmental disabilities?
As we age, our eyesight changes. Most of these changes are normal, age-related changes that do not present a serious threat to one’s well-being. However, as we live longer, more and more people will experience a significant impairment of their vision that will hinder their ability to function independently on a daily basis. It is very important that older adults see an eye care specialist on a regular basis since many causes of vision impairment are treatable and vision loss can often be prevented. Also, a change in a person’s behavior resulting from an undiagnosed vision problem could be mistaken for another serious problem, e.g. Alzheimer’s Disease. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are critical for the person’s well-being as he ages. If an adult with a developmental disability does not read or do any close work using her eyes, is an eye exam still necessary? Yes, an eye exam will detect if the individual has an eye disease. Many treatable causes of vision loss are never apparent to s
