CDC – May is Healthy Vision Month – Vision Health Initiative (VHI

You should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam to check for common eye problems annually. If you haven’t had an exam in a while, schedule one now! Your eyes should be a priority just like eating healthy and physical activity. Healthy vision can help keep you safe. Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam includes an eye care professional who will use drops to widen the pupils. This way they can check for common vision problems and eye diseases. It’s really the best way to find out if you need vision correction or if you have any eye-related diseases.

Vision Health for Everyone

CDC’s Vision Health Initiative partners with the National Eye Institute to encourage all Americans to make vision a health priority during Healthy Vision Month.

  • Although older adults tend to have more vision problems, preschoolers may not see as well as they can.
  • One out of every seven preschoolers receives an eye exam, and fewer than one out of every four  receives some type of vision screening.
  • The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screening for all children aged three to five years to find conditions such as amblyopia, or lazy eye, which can be treated effectively if caught early.

Some eye conditions can cause vision loss and even blindness. They 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.

Other eye conditions, such as refractive errors, which happen when the shape of your eye doesn’t bend light correctly, are common problems easily corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery. An estimated eleven million Americans aged twelve years and older could see better if they used corrective lenses, or eye surgery, if appropriate.

Healthy Vision Month Postponed to July

Each May, NEI uses Healthy Vision Month to spread the word about eye health. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve decided to move Healthy Vision Month to July this year. During this time, we encourage you to focus on doing what you can to protect your health and keep your family and community safe.For information on how to stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, visit coronavirus.gov

For more helpful eye care and vision care tips, please visit our main blog page.

Source: CDC