title: Essential lessons of gerontology and geriatrics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As clinicians, adult children of aging parents, taxpayers, and future retirees, optometrists have multiple reasons for wanting to know more about aging and for wanting to communicate better with older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fundamental principles emerging from gerontological and geriatrics research are reviewed. Suggestions are offered for improving clinical approaches and practice settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Population heterogeneity is the rule with aging due to sociocultural as well as biophysiological changes. Follow through with treatment regimens depends on the availability of financial and human resources and on what else is going on with the older patient at the time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diseases should be treated at all ages. Particular attention should be devoted to medications management, to compensating environmentally for normal age changes in sensory functioning, and to avoiding iatrogenic consequences of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Program, California State University, Long Beach 90840-0501.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bader
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005853:Geriatrics; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009907:Optometry; D012380:Role