Do you remember the last time you received truly excellent medical care? Although it isn't always a common thing to find, you can have better luck by doing what you can to research different doctors and medical clinics. I wanted to share this website with the world, since this is what I have been doing for years. It has been a really excellent journey to find different ways to keep great care of myself, and I know that it is all due to the help of my great doctor. Read more about self care on this blog, so that you don't have to settle for anything less than the best.
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Choosing Better Medical Care
5 Tips For Protecting Your Vision
Chris Burke
If you're like most people, you want to do what you can to protect your eyesight. As you probably know, the risk for vision loss and associated opthalmology problems increases as you age. But fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your eyes and vision.
Know if you're at risk. Find out if vision loss, or things that can cause vision loss, run in your family. Two leading causes of blindness include glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, and these are largely heritable traits. There are other eye problems that can be inherited, and knowing if you're at risk can help you prepare and possibly prevent those problems when you consult with an eye doctor.
Diabetes and high blood pressure can also lead to vision problems. So be sure to see your physician regularly to screen for these health problems. In many cases, following a healthy diet and exercise program can prevent these conditions or, at a minimum, lessen symptoms.
Watch for signs of vision problems. If you notice any changes in your vision, see an eye doctor right away. A lot of vision problems can be corrected with early diagnosis and treatment. If you experience double vision, hazy or cloudy vision, or suddenly have trouble driving at night, you could be suffering from cataracts, an injury to the cornea, or have dry eye. You might also simply need prescription glasses.
Wear sunglasses outside. Everyone knows not to stare directly at an eclipse. But even when there's no eclipse, UV rays from the sun can permanently damage the retina and lead to blindness. So when you're outside, it's important to protect your eyes with sunglasses.
Look for those that are labeled "UV 400" as these will block both UVA and UVB rays. And sunglasses are important to children and adults alike in order to protect vision long term.
Avoid smoking. You're probably aware of the most common health problems associated with smoking, but did you know it can affect your eyesight as well? People who smoke are at a greater risk of developing cataracts, uveitis, and macular degeneration—several more reasons to toss out that pack of cigarettes.
Have regular eye exams. In order to screen for potential eye problems, it's best to have your eyes examined on a regular basis. How often you need to go depends on your age and pre-existing conditions.
If you're African American between the ages of 20 and 64, you should see an eye doctor every 2-4 years.
Caucasians between the ages of 20 and 39 should get an exam every 3-5 years while those aged 40-64 should go every 2-4 years.
Those 65 and older should be seen every 1-2 years.
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