Good vision is an essential part of one’s day to day existence. We often take for granted how well our eyes work but we must take steps to maintain healthy vision.
Everyone, from infants to adults, should have an eye exam to assess the health and vision of their eyes. The American Optometric Association (AOA) has a suggested time table for when we should schedule eye exams:
Infants – first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Test for excessive tearing, constant eye turns, excessive amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism and eye health problems- Preschoolers – routine eye exams at ages 3 and 5. Watch for signs that may indicate a vision problem such as sitting too close to the TV, holding books too closely, squinting, and eye turns.
- School aged children – signs that may indicate a vision problem are: avoidance of reading, frequent headaches, head tilting, eye turns and losing one’s place when reading. A thorough eye exam will help determine the proper solution.
- Adults aged 19 through 40 – eye exam at least every 2 years. More frequent exams if there is a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, past vision problems or a family history of eye diseases, such as glaucoma.
- Glaucoma: a group of eye disorders that causes damage to the optic nerve in the eye. Loss of vision may develop slowly and may go unnoticed by the person. Untreated glaucoma can cause significant vision loss and may lead to blindness. Glaucoma can be diagnosed from a thorough eye exam.
- Adults over the age of 40 may start to notice problems with up close vision. This is a normal aging change in the ability of the eye to focus near objects clearly. This inability, called presbyopia, will progress over time. Properly prescribed reading glasses or progressive lenses can address this concern.
Adults – over 60 years of age – yearly eye exams to check for:- Age-related macular degeneration: disease of part of the retina that sees fine details and colors; causes distortion and loss of central vision.
- Cataracts: clouding of normally clear lens in the eye; results in hazy, dull vision and increased glare at night.
- Diabetic retinopathy: may occur in people with poorly controlled or longstanding diabetes. Small blood vessels in the back of the eye (retina) may leak blood; results in swelling and loss of vision. If left untreated, blindness may occur.
Here are some things you can do to maintain healthy eyes and good vision:
- Eat healthily: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Foods rich in antioxidants (i.e. spinach) help protect the eye from age-related macular degeneration.
- Stop smoking: smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
- Exercise: improves blood circulation to the eyes
- Wear sunglasses: protects eyes form UV rays when outdoors.
- Visit optometrist: thorough eye examinations are essential in maintaining good vision.
March is Save Your Vision month. In my opinion, sight is one of the most valuable senses we have. Maintaining healthy lifestyle choices along with thorough eye examinations can help us protect this valuable sense for a lifetime.
For more information about Dr. Bhadra’s practice visit: http://www.premierfamilyvision.com/.
