Today was interesting. I took DH for an eye exam. He was in a good mood and kept making very inappropriate remarks to the staff. There are no strangers. He says whatever he feels like to everybody. Like trying to keep tabs on an unruly child. I have a business size card in bright pink that says "Please Be Patient. . . The person with me has Alzheimer's disease, and may require a few extra moments. Thank you for your understanding." It was my saving grace today (I also lay it on the table when we go to restaurants or stores.) He couldn't complete any part of the exam. So since he doesn't drive or read and he seemed to see okay we decided not to change his prescription. This was a hard outing for me. And tomorrow we do it all over again at the dermatolagist. Fun, Fun.
gmaewok--Did they do the usual exam with the eye chart? When I inquired, I was told they could use something with animals, designed for young children. My concern was that with the regular test, the dementia would get in the way of reading the chart. And he certainly couldn't respond quickly to the part where they flip the lenses in front of you rapidly, asking which is better.
I am not taking my husband to the eye doctor anymore. There is no way he can answer their questions or cooperate with them. And he is still socially appropriate (according to the caseworker from the local aging agency). Other doctor appointments have worked out OK including the dentist. But the eye doctor needs him to answer questions and he can't do that.
But at least they can check for the eye pressure to see if Glaucomo is getting worse. My LO has this and takes drops every night before bed to keep it from geting worse. She still watches TV and can look at pictures, etc withut glases. does not iknow why she has glasses in her purse since she does not use them anymore.
My husband went for a visual field test yesterday. I decided I would let him go in alone but the technician quickly came out and asked me to help. He is far better able to follow the directions if given by me and the exam went well. From now on I will make a point of going with him for every type of exam. It reduces his anxiety which brings better results.
I always go in with DH because he doesn't remember what the doctor says. This morning, though, he was scheduled for blood work so I thought there's no reason for me to go in. In a few minutes, the nurse came out and asked me to come in. She had asked him what type of cholesterol medication he was on and he didn't know. I always do his medicines.
I go with DH to every doctor's appointment. He can seem perfectly OKAY, but once in the exam room, he seems to lose it - can't remember anything. Only med he can remember is Aricept.
I go to all appointments with him. He answers easily enough but where he gets some of them, I'll never know. Plus, he retains no information that they tell him. For blood work, I haven't had to go along because my sister takes him, the techs ask no questions, and thy can call if they need answers. They just do tests Dr. wants, and he knows DH is done in same time frame always--an offset to him not being 100% at fasting.
Eye Dr. visit last year was a trip. They were forewarned and modified the testing, and he could do it. Did tell him he had the tiniest start of cataracts forming, but it'd be years before they'd be issues. He spent the next 2 weeks telling everyone he couldn't see out of 'this eye" because of a cataract. Only thing, it wasn't always the same eye.<grin>
After getting the new bifocals (he's been using Bi's for years) he was seeing double. Had everything rechecked and they changed the refraction, New new glasses work fine. 4 days later he put them away. He's saving them.
My dh goes once a year. How do you know they are providing the correct answers to get the right prescription? It is very hard for me to tell which is better. this one? or this one? The way my dh answers my questions hard to see him getting the eye one correct. Maybe the reason they no longer use the glasses is - they can't see good with them???
I don't know if it will do any good to check for prescription this year or not. Other issues are being watched though. How do they do a eye exam for a 3 year old. They couldn't tell you which was better?