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August is National Eye Exam Awareness Month
See the Connection Between Your Vision and Your Overall Health
Eye exams aren’t just for finding out whether you need a new pair of glasses or contacts. They’re about getting a better understanding of your eyes, your eye history and your overall health. Tired eyes and frequent squinting can be signs that you need to see an eye care professional.
Eye exams not only help keep your vision sharp. They can reveal serious health problems, such as:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working-age American adults. Left untreated, eye diseases, such as retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma, could develop. However, proper eye care can lead to early detection and treatment of vision-related complications. Your heart is too important to put at risk by overlooking your eye health. By viewing the blood vessels in your retinas, your eye doctor can see early signs of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. High blood pressure can affect many vital parts of the body, including the arteries, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. So early detection and treatment are important.
The same ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun that burn your skin can damage your eyes. If you spend time outdoors, you could be at risk for eye problems from UV rays. So, wear sunglasses that block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB rays to help reduce your risk for:
- Cataracts
- Macular degeneration
- Photokeratitis, which causes temporary vision loss
Your eye care professional can help you choose the right eyewear so you can protect your eyes in the great outdoors. Blue light radiates from your TV, computer, tablet and phone, even the sun. The effects of blue light on vision can be wide ranging and potentially damaging. Effects include blurry vision, difficulty focusing, dry and irritated eyes, headaches and even macular degeneration.
Even if you don’t need vision correction, getting your eyes checked every year can help your eyes and whole body stay well. Creating a history of how your eyes have changed over the years is important. So, schedule an eye exam today.
For more information on routine eye exams and the importance of protecting them, read here.
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