Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions related to progressive brain decline. Most people instantly think of memory loss when it comes to the mind-robbing condition, but this is not always the first warning sign.
According to Roshni Patel, qualified optometrist and Head of Professional Services at Lenstore, a lesser-known symptom of the brain condition can strike in your eyes. Worryingly, this “common” problem is “often overlooked” as a dementia symptom.
Therefore, the optometrist highlighted the importance of recognising sight loss as one of the warning signs. Patel said: “Dementia and sight loss both become more common the older you get. Around one in nine people over the age of 60 are living with sight loss, and around one in 11 people in this age bracket are living with dementia.
“But people with dementia can also have visual problems caused by the brain, even if their eyes are still healthy. Dementia can cause a variety of changes in the brain, including how the brain processes the information the eyes bring in and how the eyes see.
“It can be difficult to tell the difference between sight loss symptoms and dementia, as conditions can be confused or mistaken for the effect of the other. That’s why it’s important that someone with dementia has their sight examined regularly, as eye tests can identify eye conditions that may cause sight loss problems without early treatment.”
Don’t just take the optometrist’s word for it, as research also suggests that vision problems may be one of the “first” signs of dementia.
For example, a study from the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences found that retinal scans can detect key changes in blood vessels that may provide an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the researchers, these findings could offer important insights into how one of the most common Alzheimer’s risk genes contributes to the disease.
Dr Jørn Slot Jørgensen, leading ophthalmologist at Laser Eye Clinic London, previously told Express.co.uk to look out for the following dementia signs:
- Changes in vision: Individuals with dementia may experience difficulty with visual perception, including trouble judging distances or identifying colours and contrasts
- Difficulty reading or writing: Dementia can lead to problems with reading comprehension, writing coherently, or understanding symbols and numbers
- Visual hallucinations: Some people with dementia may experience visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not present)
- Impaired visual memory: Recalling faces, places, or objects may become challenging for individuals with dementia.
“If you notice any warning signs in the eyes, it’s crucial to take immediate action and speak to your GP,” the doctor added.
Roshni added there are some things you can do to help someone living with both sight loss and dementia, including cleaning their glasses regularly and making it easier for them to find things.
The expert said: “To help make the most of their vision, it’s important to take good care of their eyes by making sure glasses are clean and of the correct prescription for the individual.
“Adapting the person’s environment is another step we can take to aid those suffering from an eye condition and dementia, from improving lighting around the house, using contrasting colours to ensure things are easy to differentiate, and keeping areas familiar and clean.”
