Our vision is so precious, and it is up to each of us to help save our vision! March is Save Your Vision Month, which is to remind individuals to prioritize their eye health and vision care.
Going in for routine eye exams is the first step in preserving your vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends having an eye exam at least once in your 20s and twice in your 30s. At age 40, your exam follow-up time frame is tailored to the presence or absence of problems/concerns. Yearly or every other year exams are recommended at ages 65 and up. Conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts are more common as we age and are important to catch early.
Glaucoma is known as the thief of sight as you won’t know anything is wrong until it is too late. Once vision is lost to glaucoma, we can’t get it back. This is why it is so important to go in for those routine exams to watch for glaucoma and other conditions.
If you have a family history of eye problems, you likely should be screened earlier for the condition. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can help you determine how frequently you should come back for follow-up.
Another way to save your vision is to wear eye protection when warranted. Depending on what activity or sport you are doing, there are different recommendations. To learn about what sort of eye protection you should wear and when, click here to visit an article by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
If you are dealing with eye concerns, speak to your provider or call 800-888-1433 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Karen Dickes of Ophthalmology Ltd. at Windom Area Health Outreach.
Dr. Karen Dickes, Ophthalmologist