May is Healthy Vision Month

In 2003, the National Eye Institute established May as Healthy Vision Month. During this annual observance, Americans are encouraged to make their eye health a priority and learn how to keep their eyes healthy and safe. Why is Healthy Vision Month important? Healthy Vision Month is important because more than 23 million Americans age 18 and older have never had an eye exam, according to a national survey conducted by National Eye Institute. The reason: Most say they don’t think they have an eye problem. In fact: Many eye diseases don’t have symptoms in their early stages, so without an eye exam, they can’t know. And there are worrying predictions: By 2030, 11.4 million people will have diabetic retinopathy, 4.2 million will have glaucoma, and 3.7 million will have age-related macular degeneration. Healthy Vision Month encourages people to take steps to protect their sight.

Your eyes are your windows to the world. Learn how to keep them healthy and safe. Find a Doctor of Optometry and book an eye appointment today.

Get regular comprehensive dilated eye exams.

This is more than just a vision screening. An eye care professional places drops in each eye to dilate, or widen, the pupil. This illuminates the back of the eyes so that he or she can see signs of damage or disease.

Live a healthy lifestyle.

Exercise improves circulation and improved circulation leads to increased blood flow. Good blood flow is vital for good eye health. Don’t smoke. Smoking is bad for your eyes and the rest of your body. It can increase the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

Eating healthy, including a diet rich in vegetables and fruits is vital for eye health. Managing your overall health is important also. If you have been diagnosed with any systemic disease, make sure to follow your doctor’s plan of action.

Know your family history.

Knowing your family medical history is vital. It is important to know if any of your family members have been diagnosed with any eye diseases, since many are hereditary. This makes you a higher risk of developing the diseases yourself.

Use protective eyewear.

Wear safety glasses. Even those around the house chores can lead to traumatic eye injuries. About 2,000 U.S. workers have job related eye injuries that require medical treatment each day. Household chores, such as cleaning with abrasive detergents and bleach can easily cause eye injuries just from being splashed into the face and eyes.

For the athletes, wear those safety sports glasses. Baseballs and tennis balls can easily cause a retinal detachment if hitting the eye with enough force.

Wear sunglasses.

Most people know the sun’s rays are bad for our skin. But did you know they’re just as bad for our eyes?

One of the most important things people can do to protect their vision is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. In this painless procedure, an eye care professional examines the eyes to look for common vision problems and eye diseases, many of which have no early warning signs. A comprehensive eye exam can detect eye diseases and conditions in their early stages, before vision loss occurs. Early detection and treatment can help to save your sight.

Take a break

When using a phone, computer or any elec­tronic screen, reduce eyestrain with the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.

5 FACTS ABOUT VISION THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW

1. Blindspot

   Our eyes have a blind spot in the back of the retina that is not visible to us as both eyes work together to fill it in.