How careful are you when it comes to your eyes?

When we talk about eyecare, it’s usually in reference to first aid or PPE.  But vision is too important to only worry about it in emergency situations.  It’s the day-to-day care that makes the real difference. 

When was your last eye exam?

·         It is recommended to have your eyes examined once a year, even if you don’t think your prescription has changed.  These exams do more than just decide if you need glasses, they evaluate depth perception, muscle movement, and pupil response (when dilated) – issues with any of these can be early warning signs for bigger issues such as glaucoma, detached retinas, or diabetes.

       Are you bad about keeping your glasses on your face?

·         Even if your prescription is minor, not wearing your glasses regularly could cause your prescription to get worse or cause muscle strain from constantly squinting.  For that same reason, don’t be vain, just get those reading glasses (or bifocals) already.

       Are you taking care of your contacts properly?

·         There are several types of contact lenses but the most common are soft lenses.  These are disposable, the daily variety simply gets tossed at the end of the day while the others have a longer shelf life (2 weeks, 1 month, 1 year) provided they are properly maintained.

o DO NOT sleep in them (even if they say they are ok to do so).  While sleeping, your eyes tend to dry out – as the moisture disappears, the contact lens becomes more firmly suctioned to your eye.  Lack of oxygen to the eye can lead to ulcers and broken blood vessels. If you do happen to fall asleep, add rewetting drops (or saline solution) immediately upon waking up, then remove the contact lenses and thoroughly clean (or dispose of) them.

o Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.  Think about it, you’re physically touching your eyeball…do you really want dirty hands while doing that? Keeping them clean reduces the risk of infection as well as limits the possibility of outside particles getting onto the contact lens which could potentially scratch your cornea.  Along with that, use paper towels rather than cloth towels to dry your hands so that lint and other particles don’t transfer from the towel to your hand to your eye.

       If you ever experience constant “flashing” lights that don’t have a source located in your environment, go to an ophthalmologist or ER immediately as this is a sign that your retina has detached.  Not catching it immediately could lead to complete loss of sight.

For more information, check out the American Optometric Association (AOA).  https://www.aoa.org.