The Eyes Have It – Early Detection is Key to Seeing Clearly

Eyesight is a wonderful gift often taken for granted. We rarely think about our vision until our eyesight starts to fail. Caring for our eyes is an important facet of overall healthcare.

According to Deep Dudeja MD, PIH Health Physicians board-certified ophthalmologist, the eyes are among the most important organs in our body. There are teams of physicians dedicated specifically to eye care to help preserve patients' vision and make it last for a lifetime.

Many harmful eye diseases initially have virtually no symptoms and often go undetected until it’s too late. These include:

• Glaucoma
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Macular degeneration

However, when these conditions are caught early, usually through a routine check-up, they can often be treated before vision loss occurs.

See Clearly with These Vision Saving Tips:

Prioritize eye exams. Routine screenings are critical, even if you have no issues or symptoms. Exams enable eye doctors to catch problems early when they can still be treated. Doctors recommend comprehensive eye exams beginning at age 40 and periodically thereafter based on individual risk factors (e.g., age, family history). Screenings can also reveal warning signs of more serious health problems such as:

• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes

Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke is extremely toxic and can have detrimental effects on your vision. Quitting smoking is key to keeping the eyes healthy. Smoking has actually been linked to worsening of eye conditions, including:

• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration

Focus on nutrition. Eat a diet rich with green, leafy vegetables, which are packed with antioxidants, lutein and Vitamin A. Adding a daily supplement containing Omega-3 is also wise.

Wear sunglasses with good ultraviolet (UV) protection. Sunglasses not only decrease the formation of cataracts and macular degeneration, but they can also decrease the risk of eyelid cancers and surface changes caused by excessive UV exposure.

Invest in protective lenses. To prevent injuries that can lead to blindness, physicians recommend occupational safety glasses for mechanics, machinists, construction workers and those in other high-risk jobs. These impact-resistant lenses can withstand the harsh impact of flying particles.

Beware of computer vision syndrome (CVS). To reduce eye strain caused by too many hours in front of a computer screen, invest in computer glasses, minimize screen glare, blink more often, take frequent breaks and exercise your eyes by looking at distant objects.