Health vision is key to a healthy you

May is Healthy Vision Month, a great occasion to remind everyone that your vision health impacts how you interact with the world.

Your eyes are connected to your body, and taking care of your body is one of the best ways to maintain healthy vision.  

Getting regular physical exams, maintaining a balanced diet and wearing eye protection when needed can greatly benefit your ocular health, as well as your overall health. UV protection can help slow down the development of cataracts, so wearing sunglasses or making sure your contact lenses have UV protection is also important.

 In addition, avoiding smoking can lower your risk of many health problems, including macular degeneration in the eyes.

Your eyes are an extension of your brain, which is the command center of your body. Changes in vision can occur because of changes in the brain, blood pressure issues or blood sugar issues. Organ systems in the body can create distress signals in the eyes under the right circumstances. Also, people with certain health conditions can have ocular issues they may not be aware of.

Getting a regular eye exam is also key to early detection of ocular conditions. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that children have their eyes examined at least once at 6-12 months of age and then, depending on risk factors, following up yearly.

For young, healthy adults without vision problems, the American Academy of Optometry recommends an eye exam every two years. However, with any risk factors including diabetes, family history of eye conditions such as glaucoma, or history of ocular injuries – a yearly eye exam is recommended.

If you’re concerned with any changes in your vision, remember that your primary eye care provider can help and there is no vision problem too small to mention. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can check your visual acuity, assess your ocular health for underlying conditions and determine if your eyeglasses or contacts are working properly. If you don't have an eye care provider, visit UK Advanced Eye Care to schedule an appointment.

Call UK Advanced Eye Care at 859-323-5867 or toll free 800-333-8874.