We know taking care of your heart is important, but what about your eyes? Find out why people ignore their eye health and why it’s important that you don’t.
If you had to rate your senses, would vision be at the top (or near it)? When was the last time you had your eyes checked? If you can’t remember, then you’re joining a lot of people who skip their annual eye exams. About 93 million adults in the U.S. are at high risk for vision loss, but only about half of these have visited an eye doctor in the last year. By having regular eye care, millions of people can preserve their vision.
While eye tests help people with vision problems get the prescription they need, these exams also help with your general health. Keep reading to find out how annual eye exams can help you even if you have good eyesight.
Diagnosing Vision Problems
Optometrists and ophthalmologists can conduct a comprehensive dilated eye exam to find any eye disease in the early stages. In addition to checking for eye problems, your eye doctor may even be able to identify conditions like hypertension or diabetes.
There are many common eye diseases that can cause permanent vision loss or blindness, which is why early treatment is important. Some of these conditions include cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
While people tend to have more vision problems as they get older, it’s also important to check your vision at an early age. In fact, amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children.
Protecting Your Vision
Start by getting regular eye exams – at least once a year. Children between ages 3 and 5 should get a vision screening at least once. If you have diabetes, you should get a dilated eye exam annually. Also, some populations – African Americans, Mexican Americans, people with a family history of glaucoma, and everyone older than 60 – are at a higher risk for glaucoma and should get a dilated eye exam every two years.
In addition to getting your eyes checked regularly, you should emphasize a healthy diet that includes leafy greens and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Also, make sure you know your family’s eye health history, wear sunglasses that block out 99% to 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation, and quit smoking if you smoke.
Furthermore, you can enhance your eye health by taking supplements like Eye & Vision Support. Its ingredients help strengthen the cornea, support a healthy retina, promote healthy blood vessel growth in the eye, and more. If you’re ready to take care of one of your most essential senses, don’t miss your annual eye exam and take Eye & Vision Support.