Course: The Ageing Eye: A day in the life

Section

General

No CPD Points

This course takes optometrists into the world of their older patients, helping them to understand some of the challenges of living with changing vision. This course is part of the Ageing Eye series and is supported by a range of reference materials.

Viewers follow a typical day in the lives of Maureen and Jennie, who both live with common eye conditions including AMD, glaucoma and cataracts, and gain an invaluable insight into how their conditions have far reaching effects on all aspects of their lives. Through conversations with Maureen and Jennie, we examine issues including modifications to their home environments, the challenges of driving and using public transport, shopping environments and product packaging, audio gadgets and computer modifications and hobbies.

This course also features contributions from experts in various related topics:

Mobility and falls with Professor David Elliot of University of Bradford: including recent research findings and the impact of falls on older patients.
Food and nutrition with Dr Hannah Bartlett of Aston University and Professor Ian Grierson from the University of Liverpool: including basic food and dietary advice and guidance on AREDS trials, dietary supplements and omega essential fatty acids.
Social impacts of visual loss with Cathy Yelf from the Macular Society.
Lighting and home adaptations with Sarah Buchanan from the Thomas Pocklington Trust: including lighting improvements around the home, entrances and stairways. The programme also includes a clear guide to the different sorts of light bulbs that optometrists can recommend to their patients.

First published: October 2013
Last reviewed: Jun 2024

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Learning outcomes

Communication

s.1 Listen to patients and ensure they are at the heart of decisions made about their care

Able to understand and effectively manage the common concerns and fears for older patients living with deteriorating sight, in an empathetic manner.

Clinical Practice

s.5 Keep your knowledge and skills up to date

Understand the role nutrition has to play in the risk factors of ocular conditions such as AMD and dry eye in an older patient, and the advice an optometrist can give to their patients.
Understand the effects of lighting and glare on older patients with common eye conditions and how an optometrist can advise on ways to improve their visual performance in everyday tasks.
Understand the link between visual impairment and the risk of falls in older patients.
Understand the roles of other professionals and organisations in supporting the elderly and visually impaired, and how optometrists play their part in a multi-disciplinary team.

Unit 1 - Early morning (~17 mins)

Unit 2 - Morning (~8 mins)

Resources
URLCollege of Optometrists. Vision and falls. [Accessed Jun 2024] URL Opens in a new window.
URLCollege of Optometrists. National Falls Prevention Coordination Group. Vision impairment and Falls. [Accessed Jun 2024] URL Opens in a new window.
URLCollege of Optometrists (2020) The importance of vision in preventing falls. [Accessed Jun 2024] URL Opens in a new window.
References
Beschorner K, Milanowski A, Tomashek D, Smith R (2013) Effect of multifocal lens glasses on the stepping patterns of novice wearers. Gait Posture; 38, pp 1015–20
Black A, Kimlin J, Wood J (2014) Stepping accuracy and visuomotor control among older adults: Effect of target contrast and refractive blur. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt; 34, pp 470–8
Campbell J, Robertson C, La Grow S. et al. (2005) Randomised controlled trial of prevention of falls in people aged ≥75 with severe visual impairment: the VIP trial. BMJ; 331, p 817
Cumming R, Ivers R, Clemson L et al. (2007) Improving vision to prevent falls in frail older people: A randomized trial. J Am Geriatr; 55(2), pp 175-181

Davies J, Kemp G, Stevens G, et al. (2001) Bifocal/varifocal spectacles, lighting and missed-step accidents. Safety Science; 38(3), pp 211-226
Ellison A (2014) Prismatic displacement effect of progressive multifocal glasses on fall risk in elderly people. Clin Ophthalmology; pp 891–902
Stephen R, Dayhew J, Howland A (2002) Multifocal glasses impair edge-contrast sensitivity and depth perception and increase the risk of falls in older people. J Am Geriatr; 50(11), pp 1760-1766
URLElliott D, Hotchkiss J, Scally A, et al. (2016) Intermediate addition multifocals provide safe stair ambulation with adequate ‘short-term’ reading. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt; 36, pp 60–68 [Accessed Jun 2024] URL Opens in a new window.
FileRecent Updates on Vision and Falls. (2020) File Opens in a new window.