Hubby has been in an AL facility, in a dedicated memory card unit, for about nine months. A few months ago,I noticed that his peripheral vision had diminished. In the last few weeks, he appears not to focus on anything. He reaches for things that are not there. I waved my hand right in front of his face and he had no reaction. Any input welcome.
My sister is 72 & is in s nursing home,she has lost all her social skills,when walking she walks with her legs spread apart . She does not know days from weeks Each person with Alzheimer's is different from another person having the same disease .The brain cells are dying.She is happy & content in the nursing home. & I no longer take her home-- it Is too confusing to her.. The nursing staff are so very good to her. & that is all I can ask for.
I would definitely consult and treat the eye issues. No need to live blind or with poor vision if there is a cure or treatment to slow down progression.
If there is something else going on in his brain, perhaps that would save him from the indignity of late dementia. It's your choice to put him through additional testing for a few more years to decline with Alzheimer's. I'm regretting treating mthr's colon cancer now that I see her in advanced Alz, unable to speak intelligibly, incontinent, and somewhat scared.
As the disease progressed he seemed to forget how to walk & needed to be lead. I think that was partly from not being able to see or interpret the contrast between light & shadows, which is also part of dementia vision problems.
He was especially afraid in the shower & would keep his eyes closed. I think the light, shadows, & water (feel & noise) overloaded his brain.
Reaching for things that aren't there could be hallucinating, also part of dementia. My husband would talk (mumble) to people who weren't there & "take or give them things"
Take care of yourself. You have a lot of challenges.
Carol
My Mom [98] was almost blind with degeneration for years and she didn't get dementia until her final few months after a serious fall. Same with my Dad [95], issues with eyesight, no dementia at that time, dementia came on years later.