This year’s theme is: #LoveYourEyes
Take a pledge this year to love your eyes.
Here are 4 Ps to love your eyes:
PREVENT
Many eye diseases can be prevented by having a healthy lifestyle, which would include healthy eating, as well as other healthy habits.
PROTECT
It is also equally important to protect and take care of your eyes.
The risk ranges from severe sunlight exposure, workplace accidents, as well as prolonged exposure to screens.
The question is, what can you do to protect your eyes?
PRESERVE
Plan for and have a regular comprehensive eye examination.
This includes a detailed medical history and family history to understand your risk factors, followed by checking your vision and your general eye health.
PRIORITIZE
Ensure that eye examinations are a part of your routine medical examinations.
The leading causes of blindness and vision impairment are:
· Cataract
Cataracts are the world’s most common cause of blindness. Cataract is the medical term when the intraocular lens becomes cloudy, which usually progresses with age. This condition is painless and it causes blurry vision. Ophthalmologists can perform an operation to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens.
· Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness. Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by increased intraocular pressure which affects the optic nerve causing the eye to slowly loose nerve function which in turn affects peripheral vision loss. This eye condition is painless and by the time the vision is affected the damaged is permanent. Progression of glaucoma can be slowed or halted with eye drops.
Therefore, early diagnosis is very important.
· Uncorrected refractive error
Many people are visually impaired due to uncorrected refractive errors.
In most cases, good vision can be achieved by prescribing spectacles.
Focus should be placed especially on young children.
At times the one eye sees a lot better than the other eye.
Therefore, the weaker eye becomes “lazy” causing it to see very poorly.
Sadly, this cannot be improved at a later stage.
Diabetes increases the risk factors for a number of eye diseases, one of them is Diabetic Retinopathy, which is also a significant cause of blindness worldwide.
High and uncontrolled blood sugar levels eventually damage the tiny blood vessels within the retina, which causes progressive and permanent vision loss. It is the most common cause of new blindness in people between 20 and 74.
Treatment involves laser surgery.
The best way to prevent Diabetic Retinopathy is with strict glucose control and a healthy lifestyle, which includes weight loss, dietary restrictions and exercise.
Now that you understand a few causes of blindness, pledge to #LoveYoursEyes
by making an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Do not ignore if you notice any changes in your vision.