MAPLE RIDGE, British Columbia, May 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maple Ridge Eye Care announced that the practice's optometrist Dr. Murray Hurlbert recently delivered a free talk on Tuesday, May 12 at the Pitt Meadows Seniors Centre on "Aging and the Eyes". The talk focused specifically on how preventative eye care can reduce the risk for cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are the leading causes for vision loss among individuals aged 65 or older. A key component of Dr. Hurlbert's recent presentation and ongoing message to local seniors is the importance of having a comprehensive eye health examination at least once a year, starting at age 65.
Maple Ridge optometrist Dr. Murray Hurlbert is working to reduce the impact of age-related eye diseases among local residents. Dr. Hurlbert's new community outreach program is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of annual vision exams for detecting the warning signs of eye disease.
"As our population ages, the prevalence of age-related eye diseases is increasing," said Dr. Hurlbert. "Glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the three most common diseases that pose a serious threat to eyesight in Canadians aged 65 and older."
Dr. Hurlbert currently volunteers Tuesday mornings of every month at the Health and Wellness Clinic held by the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society. Dr. Hurlbert uses this time to speak with seniors one-on-one, answering their questions about common vision problems.
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause for blindness in adults aged 55 and older. The risk for developing this disease is 8.5% for individuals aged 43-54, with this risk increasing significantly to over 36% for adults over 75.
"Vision is truly one of our most critical senses and any disease that causes vision impairment can come at a serious cost to an individual's personal independence," said Dr. Hurlbert. "While we can reduce the risk for some vision impairments, like cataracts, they cannot be completely prevented. Early diagnosis and proactive treatment is essential to monitoring potential vision problems and reducing the likelihood for vision impairment."
Dr. Hurlbert recommends that all seniors receive a full eye health examination each year that includes digital retinal photos, a visual field screening to detect glaucoma, and a dilated retinal exam. Digital retinal photos are used for diagnosing and tracking diabetes and AMD. A dilated retinal exam can track potential strokes or brain tumors.
"In some cases, we can even detect the warning signs of bigger health problems, like a potential stroke, by looking at the condition of the eyes," said Dr. Hurlbert. "And with early intervention, we are able to reduce the likelihood both for vision loss as well as additional health complications."
To learn more about upcoming talks by Dr. Hurlbert or to schedule an appointment with Maple Ridge Eye Care, visit http://mapleridgeeyecare.ca.