What affects the body affects the eyes
Systemic health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes, can damage your eyes. A warning sign of both high blood pressure and diabetes is frequent changes in vision, such as blurriness.
Always tell your ophthalmologist about your health conditions, as well as any medications or nutritional supplements you take. The eye doctor will also want to know about your lifestyle, including your eating, drinking, sleeping and exercise habits.
February is Low Vision Awareness Month
Millions of people in the United States are living with a visual impairment. These eye conditions can make it hard to do everyday activities, including driving, reading, or cooking. Certain visual impairments cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery.
One of the most common forms of visual impairment is low vision. This term describes vision loss that makes daily tasks difficult. It’s important to know that normal aging of the eye does not lead to low vision – it is a result of eye disease, injury or both.
Symptoms of low vision include loss of central and/or peripheral (side) vision, blurry or hazy vision, or night blindness. A person with low vision may have trouble recognizing faces, reading, driving and shopping. If you experience any of these problems, it is important to see your ophthalmologist right away. The doctor will check for and treat any underlying conditions. Vision rehabilitation services can help people with a visual impairment make the most of the vision they have so they can keep doing the things they love.
In addition, technology and training can help people adjust to life with low vision. There are resources, rehabilitation, aids and devices to help with reading and other daily tasks. Today’s low vision magnifiers, computer tools, games, resources and tactics can help make living with low vision successful and enjoyable.
For more information about low vision and eye health, go to aao.org/eye-health.
Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology
