What’s Your Vision IQ?

May is Healthy Vision Month, which is a good time to emphasize the importance of getting routine eye exams and practicing healthy habits to preserve your vision now and for the future. The National Eye Institute encourages everyone to follow these guidelines to help maintain healthy vision:

• Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.  Having a dilated eye exam with an expert at The Eye Institute or your own eye care professional can help detect eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration which often have no warning signs. And, common vision problems can be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. 
• Practice healthy habits such as eating a well-balanced diet consisting of dark leafy greens and omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and halibut, maintain a healthy weight and abstain from smoking. Smoking is one of the largest risk factors in many eye-related conditions, and it is also detrimental to your overall health. 
• Wear protective glasses, whether it’s protective eye wear necessary for work or sports goggles for athletic activities. Sunglasses are also essential in order to block harmful UV rays from causing any sun damage to your eyes – during the summer and all year round. Make sure to purchase sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation. 
• Know your family history as many eye conditions can be hereditary. This can determine if you are at a higher risk for developing a particular eye disease. 
• Wash and dry your hands properly prior to contact lens insertion and removal to avoid infections. Make sure to disinfect and replace contact lenses as instructed.

Healthy vision is one of the most valued senses and it is important to keep your eyes healthy by practicing the above guidelines. It is also important to see an eye care professional right away if you are experiencing any changes in your vision, eye pain, double vision, and flashes. There are many ways to keep your vision healthy, and getting a yearly eye exam is one of the best ways to do so.

The Eye Institute of Salus University offers comprehensive exams for all ages.

Call 215.276.6111 to schedule an appointment.