Occular Health: Caring for Your Vision
Optometrists are well-equipped to help you make the most of your sight.
Caring for your vision doesn't begin and end with eyeglasses, contact lenses, and corneal modification surgeries like Lasik. There are many things you can do to maximize and protect the visual tools you currently have.
Several studies have shown that a diet high in the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin can help prevent sight-robbing diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.
In addition to eye diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, visual trauma, like bruises and cuts to the eye, often result in permanent vision loss.
Fortunately, many of these injuries are preventable. Regular use of eye protection on the job, working around the house, and playing sports can prevent up to 90% of ocular injuries. To assist in preventing these injuries, the American Optometric Association developed the Occupational Vision Manual to assist employers and employees in keeping workplaces safe.
There are other preventable dangers that can build over time. Patients can struggle with Computer Vision Syndrome and over-exposure to ultra-violet rays. Over 10 million U.S. children suffer from undetected vision problems, even when they pass a school vision screening, adversely affect their school performance.
As important as these tips are, an essential component of healthy vision is a regularly-scheduled comprehensive eye examination. Optometrists are specially trained to detect and treat problems and conditions of the eye, and can help you get the most from your vision.
(This article is from the American Optometric Association: http://www.aoa.org/)