Vision Health Month is an initiative that was started last year by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
The goal is simple: Increase awareness about ocular disease and prevent vision loss.
Many eye diseases are "silent" and cannot be detected by the patient until there is significant vision loss. Unfortunately, this lost vision often cannot be recovered.
Glaucoma is a disease which usually starts off by affecting peripheral vision. Often times it is not noticed by patients until they start bumping into objects or have difficulty changing lanes when driving.
Macular degeneration is another slow moving disease that normally doesn't show up until our 50s. But it affects the macula, which is what we use for central vision.
Although the effects of these two diseases cannot be reversed, early detection can allow us to significantly slow the progression of the disease and allow patients to continue on with healthy, clear vision.
It is important to remember that just because a lot of diseases occur later in life, doesn't mean that prevention at earlier ages is not necessary.
Cataracts are a perfect example of this. Most people understand that cataracts generally develop with age and usually become significant in patients over 50. However, recent studies have shown that a majority of the damage to our eyes from UV light actually occurs in our youth, before the age of 17!
Three easy ways to help your vision:
Eat your veggies, Wear your sunglasses, and See your eye doctor! :)
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Your Doctors of Optometry are here to help you with any questions you have regarding your eye health including kids' health, early prevention, surgery, and anything else you can think of!
In BC, kids 18 and under are free and seniors, 65 and over, are partially covered (amount depends on the clinic).
Check Yearly, See Clearly!
CNIB.ca
BCAO.ca
The goal is simple: Increase awareness about ocular disease and prevent vision loss.
Many eye diseases are "silent" and cannot be detected by the patient until there is significant vision loss. Unfortunately, this lost vision often cannot be recovered.
Glaucoma is a disease which usually starts off by affecting peripheral vision. Often times it is not noticed by patients until they start bumping into objects or have difficulty changing lanes when driving.
Macular degeneration is another slow moving disease that normally doesn't show up until our 50s. But it affects the macula, which is what we use for central vision.
Although the effects of these two diseases cannot be reversed, early detection can allow us to significantly slow the progression of the disease and allow patients to continue on with healthy, clear vision.
It is important to remember that just because a lot of diseases occur later in life, doesn't mean that prevention at earlier ages is not necessary.
Cataracts are a perfect example of this. Most people understand that cataracts generally develop with age and usually become significant in patients over 50. However, recent studies have shown that a majority of the damage to our eyes from UV light actually occurs in our youth, before the age of 17!
Three easy ways to help your vision:
Eat your veggies, Wear your sunglasses, and See your eye doctor! :)
---
Your Doctors of Optometry are here to help you with any questions you have regarding your eye health including kids' health, early prevention, surgery, and anything else you can think of!
In BC, kids 18 and under are free and seniors, 65 and over, are partially covered (amount depends on the clinic).
Check Yearly, See Clearly!
CNIB.ca
BCAO.ca
