S2 Ep2: Eye care and dementia

Join our conversation with Dr Marianne Coleman, an orthoptist and researcher working at the National Centre for Healthy Ageing, a collaboration between Monash University and Peninsula Health. Marianne's dementia research has been funded by the UK Royal Society of Medicine, Fight for Sight (the UK's leading sight loss research charity) and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation.

In this episode Marianne shares her extensive knowledge on the intersection of eye care and dementia, emphasising the critical role that regular eye tests play in maintaining the quality of life for all people, including people living with dementia.

Marianne discusses her personal connection to dementia through her grandmother, highlighting the importance of making the most of opportunities for those living with dementia. She explains the role of orthoptists in diagnosing and treating eye movement disorders and how their work intersects with neurological conditions. She highlights why regular eye tests are crucial for people living with dementia and how untreated vision problems can exacerbate cognitive decline and impact daily living.

Addressing the barriers to accessing eye care for people with dementia, particularly in residential aged care settings, Dr. Coleman underscores the need for better dementia-focused training and pathways for eye care professionals. She also shares insights into her research, including her recent Dementia Australia Fellowship project aimed at developing a dementia eye care pathway for residential aged care.

Listen to gain practical advice on supporting eye health in people living with dementia, including the importance of communication between healthcare providers and the role of caregivers. Join us to hear more about this often-overlooked aspect of dementia care and learn how improving eye health can significantly enhance the lives of those affected by dementia.

Links to Marianne's work and recommendations below:

Marianne's dementia eyecare pathway project website:

http://dementiaeyecare.org

Dementia Australia National Library Guide entry on Dementia and Eye Health: https://dementia-org.libguides.com/eye-health-and-dementia

Marianne's dementia-friendly eyecare training course: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/short-courses/dementia-friendly-eyecare/

And find a dementia friendly optometrist or one that visits aged care using this website (select "dementia-friendly" or "aged care" from the services provided box):

https://goodvisionforlife.com.au/find-an-optometrist/