May is Healthy Vision Month. Taking care of your eyes is an important part of taking care of your overall health. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to ensure you have healthy vision. An eye care professional will check for vison problems and eye diseases by using eye drops to widen the pupils. An eye exam is the best way to check if contacts or glasses are needed and if eye diseases are present. If you are 60 or older, The National Eye Institute recommends a dialed eye exam once every one to two years. May is the perfect time to have a dilated eye exam if you have not had one recently. Eye problems can affect people of any age, although they are more common in adults. This month and beyond, take time to prioritize your eye health.
Steps to Take to Protect Your Vision
Get a dilated eye exam regularly.
Eye conditions can be hereditary. Keep informed on your family’s eye health history.
Eat eye health foods, including dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, and fish that is high in omerga-3 fatty acids such as salmon, trout, or halibut.
Maintain a healthy weight.
When playing sports or doing certain activities, such as yard work or painting, wear protective eyewear.
Quit smoking.
Wear sunglasses that block 99 percent-100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.
Wash your hands before taking your contacts out and cleanse your contacts properly.
Vision Health Facts
Although older adults tend to have more vision problems, preschoolers may not see as well as they can.
Just 1 out of every 7 preschoolers receives an eye exam, and fewer than 1 out of every 4 receives some type of vision screening.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screening for all children aged 3 to 5 years to find conditions such as amblyopia, or lazy eye, which can be treated effectively if caught early.
References
1. “Healthy Vision Month.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 June 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/healthyvisionmonth/index.htm.