The “EYES” Have It!
This month we recognize Healthy Vision Awareness Month. When considering all of the steps we should take when addressing our preventive health care needs, let’s not forget our vision!
Leading ophthalmologists list the following as five of the most common vision problems:
Refractive errors, related to shape of the eyeball and how light is bent. Refractive errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and my favorite….age-related difficulty focusing up close (at least get some cute readers…LOL)
Cataracts, which may result in cloudy vision or a halo effect when looking at lights.
Diabetic retinopathy, which may result in eye pain or pressure, blurred vision, or floaters. These symptoms may be caused by swelling of the retina as a result of uncontrolled diabetes.
Glaucoma, in which excess fluid in the eye increases pressure on and damages the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss.
Macular degeneration, a disorder resulting in central vision loss. This occurs when tissue in the macula is damaged or when there is an overgrowth of blood vessels in that same area.
Yikes, that’s a lot to take in! But don’t panic. Just like other health conditions, there are some preventive measures we can take to reduce our risk of developing some of these conditions. Now this doesn’t apply to the refractive disorders….so if readers are your reality or in your near future, just embrace it and be cute…LOL! Seriously speaking, according to the CDC, there are some things we can do to help protect our eye health and vision:
Get regular comprehensive eye exams.
Be familiar with your family’s eye health history.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Don’t smoke.
Eat dark leafy greens (ie. Collards, spinach, kale) and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, trout, albacore tune, halibut).
Wear sunglasses that protect against 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Wear eye protection when doing work around the house of while playing sports.
Wash your hands thoroughly when handling contact lenses and properly clean contact lenses.
Practice eye safety in the workplace.
So, if you haven’t had an eye exam recently, be sure to schedule one soon. You don’t need an ophthalmology referral for a simple eye exam. You may see an optometrist for this exam. Some common places to get an exam are: Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, Costco, and other outlets. As with any troublesome health symptom, if you experience eye pain, pressure, change in vision, trouble seeing, or anything else that concerns you, inform your primary care provider right away. Some of these symptoms may indicate a serious problem that needs immediate attention. So be vigilant and take care of those eyes, people!
As always, wishing you peace and good health!
