Healthy aging isn’t just about taking care of your body. It’s also an inside job that requires healthy practices for the mind and even the soul. And if the eyes are the window to the soul, we must commit to taking care of our eyes as we age, too. After all, we only get one set for a lifetime.
At Ighani Eye Care, we are committed to helping every patient we serve achieve healthy vision for a lifetime. And as we round the corner into the final months of the year, we’d like to remind you that now is a great time to schedule that annual comprehensive eye exam, making sure you use your vision benefits before they expire at the end of the year.
How to Make Sure Your Eyes Age Well
September has been designated Healthy Vision Month and this year’s focus is on healthy eyes. The truth is, the more candles we have on our birthday cake, the greater our risk for developing certain age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and the big one we will all face, cataracts. Consider the following guidelines to help you protect your eyes as you age:
- Understand the Importance of Early Detection. Many eye diseases have no noticeable symptoms in their early stages, making a commitment to routine eye care vitally important. Glaucoma is commonly called the “silent thief of sight” as by the time people realize there is a problem, the vision damage has already been done and is irreversible.
- Have a Comprehensive Eye Exam. A commitment to having an annual dilated eye exam is a good first step in preventing many of these conditions that can, if left undetected, rob you of your sight. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends adults have a baseline comprehensive eye exam yearly starting at age 40, as this is when age-related changes often begin.
- Adopt Preventive Measures. Embracing healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, rich in vitamins A, C, E and omega-3 fatty acids, can help your eyes stay healthy for a lifetime. Additionally, lifestyle choices like not smoking and managing health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can help slow down vision loss.
A Medical Eye Exam is So Much More Than a Vision Screening
Unlike a basic eye exam or screening, your eyes will be dilated during a medical eye exam at Ighani Eye Care. The eye drops used to dilate your eyes cause your pupils to widen, allowing more light to enter and giving our experienced providers a better view of the back of your eye. We know it’s not convenient, but eye dilation helps us in the important work of diagnosing common eye diseases and conditions mentioned above, possibly at their earliest stages.
Eye dilation can make your vision blurry and your eyes more sensitive to light, which, for a few hours, can affect your ability to drive or work. So please plan to have someone with you who can drive for you after your dilated medical eye exam.
Many people think you need vision insurance to cover an eye exam. The good news is that billing for a medical eye exam goes through your medical insurance, which typically provides more coverage than the average vision insurance plan. Additionally, for those who qualify, Medicare covers medical eye exams.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today.
