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Top Five Tips To Save Your Vision - Encouraging Prevention And Early Detection
Many people take
their vision for grant-
ed, but what if you
started to lose your
peripheral vision, de-
veloped a black spot
in the center of your
visual field, or even
went blind altogether?
For almost 4 million
American seniors liv-
ing with serious vi-
sion loss or blindness,
these and other vision
challenges can make it
difficult to enjoy life’s
simple pleasures such
as reading, playing cards or watching grandchil- dren grow. Vision loss can also make it difficult to live independently, work or drive.
Not all eye diseases can be prevented, but certain lifestyle choices can help you keep your vision healthy. To protect healthy vision, oph- thalmologists—eye physicians and surgeons— encourage seniors to follow these top five tips to safeguard vision:
1. Get an eye exam. To protect healthy vision, seniors age 65 and older should have a dilated eye exam every one to two years or as recommended by their ophthalmologist. Visit www.eyecareamer ica.org to find out if you or a loved one qualifies for an eye exam at no out-of-pocket cost with one of EyeCare America’s volunteer ophthalmologists.
2. Know your family history. Eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma can run in families, so it’s important to know your family’s history of eye disease and talk to your ophthalmologist about any possible genetic risk factors.
3. Don’t smoke. Tobacco smoking is directly linked to many adverse health effects, including cataracts and AMD. Studies show that current smokers and ex-smokers are more likely to devel- op AMD than people who have never smoked.
4. Eat right. A variety of vegetables, especial- ly leafy green ones, are an important part of an eye-healthy diet. Researchers have found that
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people on diets with higher levels of vita- mins C and E, zinc, lu- tein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are less likely to develop early and advanced AMD. For delicious recipes that incorporate these essential nutrients, EyeCare America of- fers a free, download- able cookbook called “Feast Your Eyes on This!”
5. Protect your eyes from injuries. An estimated 2.5 million eye inju- ries occur in the U.S. each year, so it is critical to wear proper eye protection to prevent eye injuries, especially during home projects like gardening and cleaning. Eye injuries can also be prevented by securing loose rugs, railings or other hazards
that could cause falls or slips.
Seniors age 65 and older are at the greatest
risk for eye disease and vision loss, and because diseases like AMD and glaucoma often have no early symptoms, comprehensive eye exams are especially important. EyeCare America provides care at no out-of-pocket cost to seniors age 65 and older through its corps of volunteer ophthalmolo- gists across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
EyeCare America is designed for people who: • Are U.S. citizens or legal residents;
• Are age 65 and older;
• Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years; and
• Do not belong to an HMO or receive eye care benefits through the VA.
To see if you or a loved one age 65 or older is eligible, visit www.eyecareamerica.org. EyeCare America is co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., with additional support provided by Alcon. The program is endorsed by state and subspecialty ophthalmological societies.
Certain lifestyle choices can help you keep your vision healthy.
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