Keeping an eye on your health includes your vision. It’s easy to take for granted how much our vision allows us to see and do.
Did you know an eye exam can detect Diabetes, Hypertension, and Thyroid disease? It’s best to be safe rather than sorry and schedule routine eye exams regularly.
People with vision problems are more likely than those without them to have diabetes, poor hearing, and heart problems. They may also be more likely to have high blood pressure, lower back pain, and stroke, in addition to increased risk for falls, injury, and depression.
For people 65 and older, 54.2 percent of blind individuals and 41.7 percent of those with impaired vision reported fair or poor overall health.
On the other hand, 21.5 percent of older Americans without vision problems reported fair to poor overall health.
Read on to find why routine eye exams are good for your health.
Routine Eye Exams
Preventive care needs to start as early as preschool, even though older adults tend to be the demographic with more vision problems.
Only one out of seven preschoolers get an eye exam, and even worse, fewer than one out of four get a vision screening of some kind.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that children between the ages of three and five years old get a vision screening to test for amblyopia or lazy eye.
It can be treated effectively if caught early.
Are you in the Atlanta area and need an eye doctor? Check out the team at Specs Appeal.
You will be in good hands with Dr. Minh Ta and Dr. Nancy Truong. They can diagnose, manage and treat dry eyes, glaucoma, keratoconus, cataracts, macular degeneration, and many other ocular conditions.
There are nine ways you can prevent eye issues:
- Get a dilated eye exam
- Your family’s eye health history is important. You need to understand it to know what you are in for
- Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, and fish
- Keep your weight under control
- Use protective eyewear when playing
- Sports or doing home activities
- Quit smoking
- Buy and wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from 99 percent-100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation
- Wash your hands and clean your contact lenses properly to avoid infection
- Be diligent about your eye safety at work
Screen Time and Eye Health
Everything has turned digital due to the pandemic. Working from home, taking online classes, or doing recreational activities virtually have become more prevalent than ever before.
Because of this, screen time has affected eye health, and it’s imperative to remain diligent about their well-being.
Dr. Reshma Jhaveri, an ophthalmologist from Mumbai, suggests that we should invest equal time in interpersonal relationships. She notes that too much time on electronic devices can lead to Computer Vision Syndrome or Digital Eye strain.
Other causes include:
- Dry eyes
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision and worsened nearsightedness
- Headache
- Poor sleep quality
Adjust your phone and computer screen brightness to protect your eyes.
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Take control of your eye care and make routine eye exams a part of your schedule. Identify potential issues before they become larger problems, and take heart in having the peace of mind regarding your eye health.
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