Your eyes are your windows to the world: keeping your eyes healthy is important to maintain and improve  your quality of life.  Some things you can do to protect your eyes are pretty simple:  like always wearing sunglasses outside, making sure you wear eye protection when playing ball sports, or checking with an eye professional before you put any kind of drops in your eyes. Never share personal items like make-up, or contact lenses.

Why you need eye exams

It is easy to remember to go to your eye doctor when you notice an eye problem, like redness, discomfort or blurry vision. But sometimes you need to see a doctor before anything seems wrong. For example, everybody over the age of 40 should have a screening test for glaucoma, especially if there is somebody in the family who has it. Glaucoma does not give you symptoms until you have lost a lot of vision, but it can be prevented with the help of your doctor.  Also, children should have their vision checked before they enter school. They may not notice that one eye cannot see that well, (“lazy eye” or amblyopia), which, if not treated within a few critical years of development, could lead to permanent vision loss in that eye.

For the elderly, several studies have suggested than patients with cataracts have reduced life expectancy, but surgery may be able to improve this.  If you have cataracts, you may notice blurry vision, starburst at night around lights, or difficulty driving at night.

Systemic conditions with eye problems

If you suffer from some diseases your eyes may be at risk. 

Diabetes can make you lose vision.  It is very important to preserve your vision that you keep good control of your blood sugars. Diet, exercise and sometimes, medications will help you to achieve this. Controlling your blood pressure is also important. Your doctor will ask you to see an ophthalmologist  (an MD that specializes in eye diseases) every year, even if you do not have any eye symptoms.  Vision loss from diabetes can be prevented, and you should not wait until it is too late.

Some inflammatory conditions of your joints, bowels, skin, your lungs, can also affect your eyes.  Sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Chron’s disease, ankylosing spondilitis, rosacea, and many others can have associated eye manifestations. 

Also some of the medications you need to take to treat these or other disorders can affect your vision.  Steroids  is a common example.  Always ask your doctor if your eyes get red, feel uncomfortable or your vision is blurry.

If you have headaches, sometimes your doctor will order an eye exam to help determine where it is coming from.

Your eyes have to last a lifetime, take good care of them!