Eye Drops Can Replace Reading Glasses For Those With Presbopia

A nurse is helping an elderly woman read.


Those who suffer from blurry near vision caused by presbyopia (age-related lens changes that affect focusing and impact reading) now have another option available to them other than strong reading glasses.  The FDA approved eye drops in October 2021 (Vuity) and a recent study found a significant portion of people using them saw improvement in vision as soon as 15 minutes after putting the drops in.  They last about six hours.  The pilocarpine hydrochloride drops work by decreasing the pupil size.  Don’t drive at night after putting the drops in as they decrease night vision.

Medicare Could Soon Cover Dental And Eye Care

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


As part of a large budget bill making its way through Congress, there is a provision to provide dental and eye care for Medicare recipients for the first time in our nation’s history.  Ironically, the bill is facing opposition from dentists, who fear that government reimbursement rates would be too low.  Back in 1965, the American Dental Association fought to keep dental from being a paid service for Medicare recipients.  Sadly, nearly half of all Americans over the age of 65 did not visit a dentist last year, and almost 20% have lost all of their teeth.  I know about the problem firsthand.  In addition to owning Family inHome Caregiving, I am president of the non-profit Hands to Help Seniors which provides emergency assistance to seniors in a financial pickle.  The vast majority of our donations go to providing dental care to low-income senior citizens, which is very expensive.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/29/upshot/medicare-dental-care.html