03/09/2026
September is World Alzheimer’s Month
At Optomise Eyecare, we know that good eye care can play an important part in helping people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia remain comfortable, confident and independent.
For someone living with dementia, changes in sight may not always be easy to recognise or explain. Sometimes a person may have an eye condition such as cataracts or macular degeneration.
In other cases, dementia itself can affect how the brain interprets what the eyes are seeing — even when the eyes are otherwise healthy.
What might families and carers notice?
A person living with dementia may begin to have difficulty:
• Reading or following words on a page
• Recognising familiar people or faces
• Finding objects that are directly in front of them
• Judging steps, edges or obstacles
• Moving around safely, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings
• Coping with dim lighting, glare or very bright light
• Locating food or objects on a table or plate
• Seeing clearly despite wearing their usual glasses
Sight problems can sometimes be mistaken for dementia symptoms and dementia can also make it harder for someone to tell us that their sight has changed.
Poor vision may contribute to increased confusion, disorientation, difficulty communicating, reduced confidence when moving around and a greater risk of falls. It may also make it harder for someone to take part in activities they previously enjoyed.
That is why regular eye care remains important.
At Optomise Eyecare, we provide professional eye care in the comfort of a person’s own home or care home, removing the stress and difficulty that travelling to a high street practice can sometimes cause.
Our experienced team understands that people living with dementia may need:
• More time and reassurance
• Clear, simple communication
• A calm and familiar environment
• Adapted testing techniques
• Support from family members or carers
An eye examination can be adapted to the individual a diagnosis of dementia does not mean someone cannot have their eyes properly assessed.
Since 1999, our aim has been simple: to provide every person with the standard of care we would want for our own families.
This World Alzheimer’s Month, we’re encouraging families, carers and care-home teams to remember that changes in behaviour or confidence may sometimes have a visual component too.
Look after their sight. Help them stay connected to the world around them.
Optomise | Eye Care at Home
