“Whatever your health is, it will last until the end of your life” (author Borisov L.). The statement contains irony, however, can we say the same about our vision?
Ideally, your eyes should be checked at least every two years (or more often), but some of us have never had one checked in our lives!
What health problems can decreased vision indicate?
A routine eye exam can detect early signs of diseases such as
- type 2 diabetes,
- high blood pressure
- glaucoma
These diseases can cause decreased or even loss of vision, as well as hemorrhage in the eye, insufficient blood supply to the eyeball (ischemia) and increased intraocular pressure (IOP).
According to some data, the number of completely blind people in Russia is 103 thousand, 218 thousand are visually impaired people. More than half of them (53%) could maintain their vision with proper regular monitoring by an ophthalmologist.
Getting your vision checked at least twice a year can save your eye health.
6 Ways to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
- See your ophthalmologist at least every six months, or more often if you have diabetes.
- Contact your doctor if you notice changes in the clarity of your vision.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child have sharply decreased vision, severe headaches, double vision (diplopia) or squint. It is necessary to find out the reason for these changes.
- Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet (foods rich in antioxidants are good for eye health).
- Regular exercise and moderate alcohol consumption will help control your blood pressure and also keep your eye vessels healthy.
- Stop smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), which in turn can lead to vision loss.