Transitions Optical has released a poster and online education course, “Riding the Age Wave”, to help eyecare professionals educate patients on how normal healthy aging affects their vision, and to advise them on options for treatment that will restore, maintain and enhance their vision.
The course, available online at Brainshark.com/Transitions/AgeWave, shows how the baby boomer generation has redefined the word “aging,” as they postpone retirement and look to maintain a lifestyle that demands enhanced vision. Overviewing the common visual issues baby boomers will experience as they age, “Riding the Age Wave” demonstrates how Transitions® lenses with an anti-reflective (AR) coating and digital design is the ideal healthy aging solution that addresses these problems:
As Baby Boomers age they will experience increased problems with low light levels. With an AR coating, more light passes through the lenses so aging eyes don’t have to work so hard.
Conversely, the eye will become more light-sensitive in bright sunlight and glare. Transitions lenses are clear indoors and outdoors filter the bright light to which this patient is now more sensitive.
Additionally, the more time spent in bright sunlight without proper protection increases the length of time required to adapt to the dark – meaning adaptive lenses during the day can help with dark adaptation and night vision.
“Simply put, age diminishes the eyes’ ability to control light,” said Patience Cook, associate director, North America marketing, Transitions Optical. “Baby boomers want to maintain their vision and this lens solution provides maximum ambient light indoors and at night, along with the comfort and protection of adaptive lenses, all in a personalized prescription.”
Transitions Optical has also released an educational poster to help eyecare professionals discuss the natural aging process and the impact it can have on vision, including:
Age reduces tear production, creating dry eye syndrome. Fatigue and computer vision syndrome are likely the results.
Reduced pupil size results in less light coming into the eye. This often presents problems with low light, making reading and any close-up work troublesome.
Discoloration of the lens also reduces the light coming into the eye.
Loss of lens flexibility. Patients can’t focus on small print: presbyopia.
Vitreous humor becomes thinner and more liquefied with age, which can give rise to higher incidence of floaters.
Retinal pigment epithelium loses the ability to absorb excess light and prevent scatter. The patient can be more light sensitive and glare becomes more problematic.
“We want to create conversations about vision that will show how a comprehensive lens solution can address visual needs throughout life,” added Cook.
The “Aging Eyes Poster” can be ordered online at www.Transitions.com/POS.