Eye Health Care

Eyesight has the largest impact on our day-to-day life. Vision is the ONE sense that people fear losing the most. Pay attention to your eye health so that you can spot problem areas in your vision sooner.

Healthy Vision Month is a great time to learn more about eye health- care and an opportunity for you to gain a better understanding of how at-risk you may be for potential vision problems.

How do you know if YOU are at risk?

Many common eye diseases that can lead to vision loss or blindness, such as diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), often have no early warning signs or symptoms. Scheduling regular eye exams to make sure your eyes are healthy and seeing their best is most important. However, the risk of vision loss and blindness is higher for some based on race, ethnicity, and other demographic and socioeconomic factors.

SEE if it’s you

You might be at higher risk for vision loss if you have a family history of eye disease; have diabetes; are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native; or are older than age 50.

• Glaucoma affects your side or peripheral vision first. Turns out it’s three times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians, in fact, in African Americans it is a leading cause of blindness.
• Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness caused by uncontrolled diabetes. Studies show that it occurs more often in Hispanics/Latinos than in Caucasians.
• American Indians and Alaska Natives are 35 % more likely to get diabetes than the average adult in the U.S, putting them at increased risk of diabetic eye disease.
• Older adults are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions such as AMD, glaucoma, or cataracts. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in Caucasians.

What does all this mean? It means that now more than ever, you should look to The Rand Eye Institute for all of your vision needs. Schedule your yearly comprehensive eye exam today to maintain healthy eyes all year long.

Keeping Your Eyes Healthy

Living an overall healthy life is good for your eyes. You can start taking steps toward living a healthy life by:

Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.

Eating healthy foods: Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, is important for keeping your eyes healthy. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Not smoking: Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.

Managing chronic conditions: Many conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and multiple sclerosis, can greatly impact vision, resulting in inflammation of the optic nerve, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and even blindness. Managing these conditions with the help of your health care provider can often prevent these eye problems from occurring.

Healthy Vision Month

When it comes to our health, we often visit our doctor or nurse regularly to ensure that our bodies are healthy, but what about our eyes? Our eyes are just as important.

During Healthy Vision Month, it is important to be educated about the proper ways to protect your vision.

One of the ways to keep your vision young and working it’s A-Game, is to schedule regular eye checkups and yearly comprehensive eye exams.

While you might think your vision is good enough and that your eyes are healthy, visiting The Rand Eye Institute for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to be completely certain.

When it comes to common vision problems, many people don’t realize their vision could be improved with glasses or contacts. In addition, many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration often have no symptoms, so a dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.

During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, drops are placed in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil. At Rand Eye Institute we use a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and look for signs of damage and other eye issues. After the examination, your close-up vision may be blurred for several hours, so it’s recommended that you have someone with you to drive you home.

An annual exam could end up being a life saving event.