Healthy vision is key to enjoying the little moments in life. And as you age, it plays an even bigger role in helping you stay active and independent. National projections show that the number of people in the U.S. with visual impairment or blindness is expected to double by 2050.¹

As you get older, you may notice changes in your vision. Good news—you can take action today to improve your eye health, and your BCBSRI Medicare Advantage plan offers comprehensive vision benefits that can help.  

How to protect your vision

Take steps to help maintain your eye health. Consider these tips from the CDC²:  

• Get gear: Wear protective safety glasses, goggles, or eye shields when doing activities that could harm your eyes. Choose sunglasses that block 99–100% of UV-A and UV-B rays to shield your eyes from the sun.  
• Keep things clean: Take care of your glasses so they stay free of dirt and smudges, properly care for your contact lenses before and after use, and avoid touching your eyes with unwashed hands. These simple habits can help prevent eye irritation and infections.
• Give your eyes a break: Follow the 20-20-20 rule with screens: every 20 minutes, look away (about 20 feet, for 20 seconds) to reduce strain.  
• Maintain healthy habits: Enjoy a balanced diet rich in fruits, greens, and omega-3 fish, and keep your weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in check. Quitting smoking also can lower your risk for vision issues like macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage.

Common age-related vision problems

Don’t ignore sudden changes in your vision. Double vision, flashes of light, eye pain, or floaters (tiny specks that appear to float before your eyes) are all signs you should call your eye doctor. Early detection can make a big difference in treatment and outcomes. Even if you feel fine, regular checkups help catch problems before they impact your daily life.³

Some eye conditions become more common with age. Here are a few to look out for:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula, which is the part of your eye that helps you see things straight ahead—like when you’re focusing on cooking or watching TV. In the beginning, you might not notice any changes, but as AMD gets worse, you could see blurry spots, wavy lines, or have trouble seeing small details. That can make everyday activities, like reading or driving, a lot harder.⁴
• Glaucoma: Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can slowly damage your optic nerve, the part of your eye that sends information to your brain. The tricky part is that you often don’t feel or notice anything wrong in the early stages, so it’s possible to not know you have glaucoma until it’s advanced. Your chances of getting glaucoma go up as you age, especially if it runs in your family.⁵
• Cataracts: Cataracts happen when the clear lens in your eye becomes cloudy, which can make your vision blurry or faded. This is a common part of aging for many people—especially those in their 80s or older. Early on, you might not notice much difference, but if cataracts get worse, you could lose more of your eyesight.⁶

How your BCBSRI Medicare Advantage plan can support your eye health

Whether you’ve maintained perfect vision or have a condition that affects your eyes, your BCBSRI Medicare Advantage plan can make things easier—and less expensive.

• Your routine vision exam at no extra cost: Medicare Advantage members are encouraged to get an annual $0 eye exam to help spot (and treat) issues early.  
• Your eyewear allowance: Your plan includes money to help you buy eyewear—like glasses or contact lenses—making it easier to see your best without breaking the bank. Plus, you can save even more when you purchase from an EyeMed⁷ provider. And if you prefer to shop at an out-of-network licensed provider, there’s an easy reimbursement process.  
• Your discounts: Blue365® ⁸ offers deals on a wide variety of vision-related products and services to all members.