September is Save Your Sight Month

By , SparkPeople Blogger
There is a saying that we never appreciate something until it is loss, including something as important as our vision. Many of us never give it a second thought to go to the doctor the minute we do not feel well, but how many of us visit our local ophthalmologist or optometrist every year for an eye exam. Unfortunately many of us fail to understand the importance of having a yearly eye exam; therefore, we may not be aware of any underlying vision conditions or diseases.

When my daughter failed an eye screening exam in second grade I was unaware that she was even having problems. During her exam with the ophthalmologist, he informed me that many people aren’t even aware of vision issues until they receive their corrective lenses and they discover a whole new world.

Now that I have reached my late 40s, I have had to resort to wearing reading glasses. My arms just aren’t long enough. While I was convinced that I would never fall into this category, that is not the case. With aging comes the need to wear glasses, not just for reading, but in doing tasks such as cross stitching, scrapbooking, even cooking.

Eye exams are crucial, especially as we get older. According to The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, "by age 65, one in three Americans has some form of limiting eye disease." The risk for developing eye conditions and diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, even diabetic retinopathy, increase with each passing year making eye exams a necessary part of our yearly medical evaluation.

In honor of Save Your Sight Month, EyeCare America, The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology is offering a referral service for eye exams with no-out-pocket cost to those who qualify. By visiting the link above, you can determine whether you or your loved one meets the qualifications for an eye exam and follow-up care.

Our vision plays such a vital role in our everyday life which is why we must do what we can to preserve it. Like I said earlier, we never know what we will miss until we longer have it. By taking the necessary steps early on, hopefully we can maintain a quality of life by preserving our eyesight.

Do you have a yearly eye exam, if not why? Do you believe vision problems are only for those over the age of 40? Have you ever participated in the EyeCare America program?

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