Ophthalmological examinations in elderly people do not only detect vision problems. A new study supports evidence that certain types of vision problems may indicate an increased risk of dementia.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all healthy adults undergo an initial ophthalmological examination with an ophthalmologist by the age of 40. Older people over the age of 65 should see an ophthalmologist every two years.

“This study should strengthen our desire to protect our eyes as we age. “It benefits our overall health and can also help protect our cognitive health,” says ophthalmologist J. Kevin McKinney, MD, a member of the Academy and a glaucoma specialist.

Doctors have long observed a link between vision loss and cognitive impairment. Many studies have shown that older people with reduced vision are twice as likely to develop conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

A study of 1,200 adults reinforces the evidence for this relationship. The researchers monitored adult vision with dementia for 16 years. They also measured adults’ speech, memory, attention, and various mental well-being measures, including their ability to plan, pay attention, and remember instructions.

This new study found that people with the worst visual acuity had the highest risk of speech and memory loss.

Those who had difficulty detecting objects on a background of a similar color, also known as light-contrast sensitivity, had a higher risk of reduced speech, memory, and attention.

People with poor depth perception are at increased risk for impaired speech and memory.

Critics say the study was based on mental well-being tests that required good eyesight, which could have blurred the results. In addition, the study focused on predominantly white, well-educated, older adults, so the findings may not be valid in other populations.

It is not clear that vision loss causes dementia or vice versa. A recent study shows that it can go both ways: Elderly people with dementia are more likely than others to develop vision impairment and those with vision problems are more likely to develop dementia. More studies are needed to determine if – and how – these conditions are related.

Common causes of vision loss include cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma. Some health problems may affect both vision and cognitive function. Loss of vision may also contribute to depression or social isolation, which in turn may affect cognitive function.

A recent study from South Korea found that people with vision and hearing problems are twice as likely to develop dementia as people with only one or no disability.

The new findings, however, reveal one important thing: the importance of regular eye exams for the elderly. Ophthalmologic examinations can not only help diagnose vision loss early, they can also help identify elderly people at risk for dementia.

Source American Academy of Ophthalmology (aao.org)