Image credit: By Laitr Keiows (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

As part of its observance this month of Healthy Vision Month, the Division of Services for the Blind wants to educate you and your family about the importance of eye health, and how to maintain healthy vision.

One of the most important steps in maintaining healthy vision is to get an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam. That is the only way to detect many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration in their early states.

Early detection and timely treatment of eye disease are keys to prevent vision loss and blindness. Only an eye doctor can diagnose and treat a vision problem.  Here are some tips from the National Eye Institute to keep your eyes healthy:

• Eat right to protect your sight! Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially spinach, kale, collard greens, and fish high in omega-3 acids, such as salmon, tuna and halibut is important for keeping your eyes healthy.
• Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20-rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions; this can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.
• Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are cool, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Wear sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
• Know your family’s eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.
• Clean your hands and contact lenses – properly. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.
• Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.
• Wear protective eyewear. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses, goggles, safety shields and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity.

If you are in need of assistance for yourself or family member who has been diagnosed with a significant visual impairment requiring assistance with gaining independence or vocational rehabilitation, contact N.C. Services for the Blind at www.ncdhhs.gov/dsb.