Healthy Vision Month

Did you know that May is National Healthy Vision Month?

Millions of people living in the United States have unnoticed vision problems, eye diseases, and conditions. By promoting the importance of early detection and treatment, as well as the use of proper eye safety practices in preventing vision loss and blindness, Healthy Vision Month is intended to promote vision as a health priority for the Nation.

One of the number one things people can do to protect their vision is to schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This is a painless procedure where an eye care professional examines the eyes to look for common vision problems and eye diseases.  Many of these have no warning signs.  Early detection and treatment, however, can save your sight.  A comprehensive dilated eye exam can detect eye diseases and conditions in their early stages, before vision loss occurs.

Here are more helpful tips for keeping your vision healthy:

• Know your family's eye health history
• Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This information will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition. 
• Eat right to protect your sight
• You’ve heard carrots are good for your eyes. But 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, too.1 Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut. 
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor. 
• Wear protective eyewear
• Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some sporting goods stores.
• Quit smoking or never start
• 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, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.
• Give your eyes a rest. 
• If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain. 
• Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly
• To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.
•  Be cool and wear your shades
• Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. 

For more information on healthy vision, call or visit your local Hattiesburg Eye Clinic.