Eye exams in aging adults may catch more than just vision problems. A new study bolsters evidence that certain types of vision problems may point to an elevated risk of dementia.
The Academy recommends all healthy adults get a baseline eye exam with an ophthalmologist by age 40. Seniors over the age of 65 should see an ophthalmologist every one to two years.
“This study should strengthen our desire to protect the eyes as we age. Doing so benefits our overall health, and may also help protect our cognitive health,” says ophthalmologist J. Kevin McKinney, MD, an Academy member and glaucoma specialist.
Balancing vision with mental agility
Doctors have long observed a link between vision loss and cognitive decline. Many studies have shown that older adults with impaired vision have twice the risk of developing conditions like dementia and Alzheimers disease.
A sweeping study of 1,200 adults strengthens the evidence for this link. Researchers monitored the vision of adults with dementia for 16 years, checking for three different types of vision loss. They also measured the adults’ language, memory, attention and various measures of mental agility, including the abilities to plan, pay attention, remember instructions and juggle multiple tasks.
Cognitive decline tied to three types of vision loss
Here’s what the new study found:
- People with the worst visual acuity had the greatest risk of declining language and memory
- Those who had difficulty detecting objects set against similar-colored backgrounds, also known as contrast sensitivity, had higher risks of declining language, memory, attention and visuospatial ability
- People with poor depth perception are at increased risk for declines in language and memory
Critics note that the study relied on mental agility tests that required good vision, which could have muddied the results. Furthermore, the study focused on predominantly white, well-educated, older adults, so the findings may not hold true in other populations.
Does vision loss cause dementia? Or does dementia cause vision loss?
It’s not clear that vision loss causes dementia, or the other way around. A recent study suggests it may go both ways: Older people with dementia are more likely than others to develop vision impairment, and those with vision impairment are more likely to develop dementia. More studies are needed to determine if — and how — these conditions are related.
Common causes of visual decline include macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. It’s possible that certain health conditions affect both vision and cognition. Or that vision loss contributes to depression or social isolation, which could in turn affect cognition. A recent study from South Korea found that people with impairments in both vision and hearing are twice as likely to develop dementia as people with only one or neither impairment.
But the new findings do reveal one important thing: the importance of regular eye exams for seniors. Not only can eye exams help catch vision loss early — they may also help identify seniors at risk of dementia.
Some Seniors May Be Eligible for a Free Eye Exam
For individuals age 65 or older who are concerned about their risk of eye disease, you may be eligible for a medical eye exam, often at no out-of-pocket cost, through the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America® program. This public service program matches volunteer ophthalmologists with eligible patients in need of eye care across the United States. To see if you or a loved one qualifies, visit EyeCare America to determine your eligibility. EyeCare America is co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Inc., with additional support provided by Alcon and Regeneron.