How to Protect Your Eye Health: May Is Healthy Vision Month

One of the leading causes of disability in the United States is loss of vision. Sadly, an estimated 12 million people aged 40 years old and over suffer from vision impairment. Even if about 93 million adults in the country are at an increased risk of severe vision loss, only half have seen their eye doctor in the past year. The good news is there are multiple ways to protect your eye and vision health. The month of May is devoted to raising awareness about the significance of having a healthy vision. Read on to learn more about how you can observe and raise awareness, not just during Healthy Vision Month.
 

• Get a Periodic Comprehensive Eye Examination. There are numerous ways to protect your vision. According to the National Eye Institute, the single best thing you can do to preserve your eye health is getting a dilated eye exam. It's a simple and painless procedure that will check for various eye diseases early on while they're still easier to treat. Other assessments commonly performed during an eye exam include refraction, distance vision, and slit-lamp exams. Many eye and vision problems can be controlled and successfully treated, provided they're detected in their early stages. Regular comprehensive eye exams are crucial to protecting your eye health.

• Determine If You’re at an Increased Risk for Eye Diseases. Your risk for some eye diseases tends to increase as you age. You may also become more susceptible if you're overweight, diabetic, or have high blood pressure. You may also have a higher risk if you have a family history of eye disease. Find out your family's health history. Talk to your family members and determine whether or not they've had any eye issues. Some eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration can be hereditary. If you're concerned that you may be at an increased risk for certain eye diseases, be sure to tell your eye doctor. They can assess your eye health and guide you in taking steps to lower your risk. 

• Protect Your Eyes. Every day is an opportunity for you to protect your eyes from anything that can harm them. Even on cloudy days, ensure that you wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent ultraviolet radiation. As much as possible, opt for large or wraparound frames as they offer more extensive coverage. Equally important is to wear protective eyewear when you're playing sports. The same goes for when you're doing construction work or home improvement projects. See to it that you take frequent breaks, especially when you stare at display screens for too long. If you're used to wearing contact lenses, ensure that you take all the necessary steps to prevent eye infections. 

Protecting your overall health can also go a long way to preserving your eye health. You must make healthy choices and commit to taking good care of yourself. Good habits like quitting smoking, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, and getting active can help reduce your risk for health problems resulting in eye or vision issues. 

Have you observed any vision changes recently? Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today with our experts in TMS Eyecare. Call any of our offices in Wichita at 316-669-4760 or 316-686-7212 and Arkansas City at 620-442-2577 to make an appointment.