May is dedicated to Healthy Vision Month, a time to make your vision and eye health a priority. Most people will visit their primary care doctor at least once a year to make sure that their systemic conditions are managed appropriately. But what about your eyes? Eye health is just as important as your systemic health and routine eye exams are important. Millions of people have undetected eye conditions and vision problems. Through a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care provider can detect many common vision problems as well as eye diseases, some of which have no warning signs.
Some steps that you can take to promote healthy eyes include getting a comprehensive eye exam. Early detection and treatment of eye conditions is key to prevent vision loss and blindness. It is important to know your family’s eye health history as well, as some eye conditions can be hereditary and require early intervention. You should also wear sunglasses when outside (even on cloudy days) in order to prevent harmful damage from UV (ultraviolet) light. It is important to choose sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Another helpful step to promote healthy eyes is to take breaks when using a phone, computer or electronic device in order to reduce eye strain. Following the 20-20-20 rule can help to reduce eye fatigue that is induced by using digital devices. The rule states that every 20 minutes, you should look 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds. Maintaining a healthy diet, managing chronic systemic conditions and living a healthy lifestyle can also help to reduce the risk of eye disease.
Make your eye health a priority this month. If you would like to discuss your eye health and steps you can take to improve your eyes, call 860-233-2020, to schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam with one of our eye care specialists today. We look forward to seeing you soon!
