Palliser Primary Care Network

May is Vision Health Month

Pamela Cloutier, Registered Nurse
May 3, 2022

Vision Health Month is a great time to raise awareness about eye health and ways to prevent vision loss.  A regular eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is the best way to stay on top of eye health.  Did you know that 1 in 7 Canadians will develop a serious eye disease in their lifetime?  Yet, 75% of vision loss can be prevented or treated with proper care.  A comprehensive eye exam can also detect potentially life-threatening conditions like brain tumors, high blood pressure and diabetes. (1)

Taking care of your eyes can be a priority just like eating healthy and physical activity.  Healthy vision can help keep you safe each day.  To keep your eyes healthy, get a comprehensive dilated eye exam: an eye care professional will use drops to widen the pupils to check for common vision problems and eye diseases.  It’s the best way to find out if you need glasses or contacts or are in the early stages of any eye-related diseases. (2)

Some eye conditions can cause vision loss and even blindness.  These include:

• Cataracts, a clouding of the eye.
• Diabetic retinopathy, which causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye.
• Glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve, often with increased eye pressure.
• Age-related macular degeneration, which gradually affects central vision. (2)

Besides regular eye exams, protect your vison by making smart decisions every day with these quick tips:

• Know your family’s eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since some are hereditary.
• Eat right to protect your sight. Eat plenty of dark green leafy greens such as spinach, kale or collard greens and fish that is high in omega -3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, trout and halibut, foods containing vitamin C such as red bell peppers, kiwi, strawberries, oranges.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being obese can put you at higher risk for diabetes and other conditions that can lead to vision problems.
• Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities such as painting, yard work and home repairs. Practice workplace safety.
• Quit smoking or never start.
• Wear sunglasses that block 99% -100% of Ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation.
• Wash your hands before taking out your contacts and cleanse your contact lenses properly to avoid infection. (2)

The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends children have their first eye exam between ages six and nine months, and annually after that.  Adults should have eye exams every two years, or at the direction of their optometrist. (1)

For this Healthy Vision Month, take care of your eyes to make them last a lifetime.