It is easy to forget about our vision and having regular eye exams when we aren’t having any problems, you can see well and nothing is irritating your eyes. If you wait until notice a problem to see an eye doctor, it could be too late. Fortunately, there are a few steps to stay proactive and keep your eyes in great shape.
Routine Eye Exams
Seems simple enough, but according to WebMD, “Surprisingly, many people who care about their eyesight aren’t always that good about getting to the doctor. A survey by the American Optometric Association (AOA) found that 85 percent of people valued their sight as their most prized sense, but less than half of that group had had an eye exam in the past two or three years. What gives? “People tend not to think about preventive care…Many diseases affect the eye in such a way that you can see 20/20 until suddenly, one day you can’t,” says Dr. Lowe.
Adults, especially those over 40, should have yearly eye exams, particularly to prevent age-related ocular conditions including macular degeneration (the part of the retina that processes light deteriorates), cataracts (the lens of your eye becomes cloudy) and glaucoma (pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve). Children should have their first eye exam between the ages of 6 and 12 months. “It’s important to detect visual problems that could impede a child’s ability to learn,” says Dr. Lowe.”
Make sure your eye doctor knows your complete health history. There are many connections with eye problems and issues with illnesses in the body, such as diabetes, blood pressure and hypertension.
If you spend time in front of a computer screen remember the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away or more for at least 20 seconds, to give your eyes a break from the strain of focusing on the computer.
Protect your eyes. “A lifetime of UV light exposure can contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration, so always wear sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. And since, by the time you hit age 18, you’ve already received 80 percent of the UV light that you’ll be exposed to in a lifetime, it’s crucial to protect your children’s eyes as well,” WebMD.