Newmedica highlights valuable role of grandparents

Research commissioned by optometry provider Newmedica suggests grandparents save families an average of £5370 a year in childcare costs, highlighting the important role older relatives play in family life.

With age-related eye conditions potentially affecting their independence, the survey’s findings reinforce the importance of eye care for early detection, patient education and timely referral.

The survey of 1000 parents with children aged five and under found that 71% believed grandparents were playing a more active role in childcare than ever before. However, 36% said they had noticed a deterioration in an older relative’s eyesight over the past five years.

It emphasised that grandparents are being asked to provide childcare support an average of 97 times each year to help families avoid daily childcare costs – this is at a time when the average age of becoming a grandparent has increased to 65.

The survey’s findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of age-related eye conditions with patients. The findings also put a spotlight on how optometrists can support patients’ independence and quality of life through eye care.

Usman Hussain, consultant ophthalmologist at Newmedica, said that maintaining eye health is an important part of enabling grandparents to remain active and independent, particularly as conditions such as cataracts become more common with age.

Hussain added: “Left untreated, this can lead to sight loss, potentially limiting grandparents’ ability to enjoy these special moments with their grandchildren and leaving families without a vital source of support.”

Almost half of the parents who responded to the survey (49%) said they had noticed age-related health issues in a parent, while 36% had seen the older relatives’ sight worsen in the past five years. Consequently, 75% said that they worry that deteriorating health would make it harder for the grandparents to play an active role in their grandchildren’s lives.

Hussain said that in most health matters, including eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts, the sooner they are identified, the easier it is to treat them.

He added: “In the example of cataracts, although they aren’t painful and usually grow slowly, waiting too long allows the natural lens to harden, increasing the complexity of eventual surgery.

“It’s therefore important that cataracts are diagnosed early, because this ensures a safer, more predictable surgical procedure and prevents the risk of permanent secondary damage to the eye.”