Doctors of optometry are doing more than just eye exams. It turns out, correcting vision is just part of what the doctors at Lake Nona Eye Care are doing.

Last year alone, 320,000 cases of diabetes were detected by doctors of optometry. Just think of the impact they could have by detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s.

With over 5.4 million American’s affected by the tragic disease, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates by the year 2050 this number will be 13.8 million.

According to the American Optometric Association and the CDC:

  • The rate of Alzheimer’s jumped 50 percent between 1999 and 2014.
  • Americans fear losing their mental capacity more than losing their physical abilities.
  • More than $230 billion is estimated to be spent in 2017 on providing health care, long-term care, hospice plus unpaid care for relatives with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Optometry’s Role in Fighting Alzheimer’s

“The earlier diagnoses give doctors and patients a better chance at managing the progressive brain disease and preserving the patient’s quality of life,” Maryke Nijhuis Neiberg, O.D., associate professor in the School of Optometry at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Heath Sciences, in Worcester, Massachusetts says. “There has been some increase in Alzheimer’s awareness over the years, particularly in the eye community, but not enough yet.”

“With the advent of OCT (optical coherence tomography), we now know that the retinal ganglion cell layer thins and that the optic nerve cup-to-disc ratio increases in size, not unlike glaucoma,” Dr. Neiberg says. “Alzheimer’s produces visual field defects that are easily confused with glaucoma. What we need is large-scale research to determine how much of the normal tension glaucoma we diagnose and treat is ultimately related to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Dr. Neiberg also adds, early Alzheimer’s cases have perceptual changes that are both remarkable and measurable. Research shows the visual memory assessment, Benton Visual Retention Test, can even predict those who are at a high risk for Alzheimer’s. “It’s a simple test many developmental and pediatric optometrists already have on their shelves. If we combine that test and the ocular findings we see, we have a very strong indication that something is indeed amiss. Armed with this information, the patient can then consult with their primary care physician, initiate lifestyle modification and request a referral if necessary.”

While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, with early detection, medication, and lifestyle modification, the progression can be delayed.

When was the last time you had a comprehensive eye exam?  Contact Lake Nona Eye Care for an appointment.