An optometrist who works in vision care for seniors can:

• Diagnose and treat glaucoma with prescribed medication
• Order lab tests for diagnosis or treatment of eye disease
• Prescribe glasses or contact lenses
• Provide vision therapy

If you are diagnosed with a serious/advanced eye disease, an optometrist will refer you to a specialist (ophthalmologist) depending on the needed treatment.

Low-vision devices

Your optometrist may recommend low-vision treatment options to help you with your vision impairment. These devices and products include:

• Magnifiers (hand-held, wearable, or stand)
• Miniature telescopes
• Text-to-speech readers
• Video magnifiers that enlarge, brighten, or increase the contrast in video displays

Your optometrist can give you options for a variety of adaptive technologies and products capable of helping seniors maintain independence with vision loss.

You may also be referred to low-vision rehabilitation services. These specialized low-vision professionals work with older adults to maintain or improve quality of life with impaired vision.