An eye exam may be the ticket to a longer life, researchers say, because good vision is essential for being able to shop, manage money and live independently, says NPR.
Researchers have known for years that people who have vision problems as they get older are more likely to die sooner than those who still see well. But they weren't sure why that was so.
To answer that question, scientists looked at data from the Salisbury Eye Evaluation. People who lost visual acuity equivalent to one letter on an eye chart each year had a 16 percent increase in mortality risk over eight years, and that was due to the loss in independent living abilities, the researchers said.
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