Preserve your Sight!
Keep an Eye Out
Certain populations of people are at greater risk for eye diseases and need to pay close attention to their visual health. This includes:
- African Americans and Hispanics over the age of 40
- people with diabetes
- persons who smoke
- those with a family history of eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Vision lost to undetected eye disease cannot be restored!
Many eye diseases, including those associated with diabetes and age, do not exhibit any initial symptoms before permanent vision loss can occur. An eye exam with pupil dilation is the best defense against undetected eye disease.
There are several steps you can take to make sure your vision remains healthy for as long as possible.
- Eat a healthy diet as recommended by your doctor.
- Exercise.
- Do not smoke.
- Wear sunglasses.
- Have an eye exam performed by an eye care professional on a regular basis!
If you have diabetes, you should aim to prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy:
- Watch and control your blood sugar levels.
- Take care of yourself and exercise.
- Have a dilated eye exam at least once a year!
By following these tips you can reduce your risk of developing eye disease.
This article is based on information provided by Prevent Blindness Ohio and was adapted for use on NetWellness with permission.
For more information:
Go to the Eye and Vision Care health topic.