August is National Eye Exam Month

This August, observe National Eye Exam Month by learning about ways to keep your vision clear and healthy. If you’re one of those people who can hardly remember the last eye exam they had, then let this August be the month that you get back on track.

It is a good health practice to get regular eye exams, and it is even important to get a check up at an ophthalmologist’s office as we age. getting a baseline eye exam can detect early signs of disease or damage to your eyes. Ophthalmologists recommend periodic eye exams every 2-4 years from the ages of 18-60, and every 1-2 years after the age of 60. While most symptoms are often disregarded, getting a simple checkup and following a doctor’s orders can greatly lower risks of more severe and future damage, and you can continue to enjoy healthy vision.

Here’s something to think about–over 70% of the country’s workforce requires some form of vision correction. That means there’s a good chance that you may need some sort of vision correction during your lifetime.Here are some reasons about why they should have an eye examination:

-Save a headache. If you have been having unexplained, constant headaches, your solution could be visiting your optometrist. An eyecare professional can pinpoint the problem of your headaches.

-Perform well in school. One out of every four children has vision problems. A common reason children fall behind in school is poor, undetected vision. Taking your children to the optometrist can detect an eyesight problem that can contribute to learning and reading difficulties.

-Determine prescription. Your eyes change over time. An optometrist can determine if you need eyeglasses or contact lenses, or if you need a stronger prescription to reduce eyestrain and help you see better.

-Detect eye conditions. An optometrist is able to spot the early onset signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and high cholesterol just by conducting an eye exam.

-Prevent conditions. Many serious eye diseases often have no symptoms. An optometrist will see the early signs of diseases, such as macular degeneration or cataracts. Early detection is important to prevent serious damage.

-Safety. Driving with problem vision can be a danger to you and other drivers. If you cannot see signs well, or have blurred vision when driving at dusk or at night, glasses or contacts can help you see and keep you safe on the road.

-Signs of other problems. Here’s another thing to remember—your eye doctor may be able to alert you to overall health problems, too. Many people think the eye doctor can only tell you if there’s a problem with your eyes. But the truth is, a comprehensive eye exam can tell you about other problems, as well. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other diseases can be spotted through an eye exam. The doctor will examine the blood vessels, retina, and other parts of the eye to determine if there’s a problem that isn’t directly about your vision. It makes sense when you think about it. Your eyes are part of an extremely complex system, and when something goes wrong, there’s a good chance it will affect them, too.Keep the sparkle in your eye and get your eyes checked out during National Eye Exam Month!