Optometrist provide elderly with free eye care

It is widely assumed that eyesight begins to fade with age, but despite this fact many senior citizens do not consider eye exams a priority. According to The New York Times, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is attempting to remedy this disparity by providing free eye care for up to a year for elderly patients.

The service, which is open to those over the age of 65, is provided through the EyeCare America program and is comprised of 7,000 optometrists who do not accept any out-of-pocket fees. EyeCare America spokesperson Allison Neves told the news source that the opportunity to receive care at no cost may be the push for some patients to make an appointment.

There are a number of eye health concerns that can only be discovered through a comprehensive eye exam. The news outlet reports that small changes in peripheral vision could be an indication of glaucoma, and by the time that sets in it may be too late to correct it.

AllAboutVision.com reports that glaucoma has caused significant vision loss in more than half of the 2.5 million Americans who suffer from the disease, making it the second leading cause of blindness.