What to Know About Keeping Your Eyesight Healthy

Do you have trouble reading road signs or the newspaper? Can you not see your TV clearly?

You may have an eye issue, but that doesn’t mean it’s serious. You could have dry eyes, mild cataracts, or just need new glasses. Some symptoms, however, can suggest something more serious could be affecting your eyesight. These include light sensitivity, new black spots floating in your vision, flashes of light, double vision, or you have one eye that is red and painful.

“It never hurts to cover one eye and see how the vision is and then cover the other eye to compare. You can lose vision in one eye and not even realize it,” says Valley Health ophthalmologist Fiona Seager, MD.

An ophthalmologist treats serious diseases of the eye, sometimes with surgery. Patients visiting an ophthalmologist can likely expect the doctor to dilate their eyes and to use a bright light with a microscope to examine them. A visit can typically last 1-2 hours.

Dr. Seager touts prevention as the best way to keep your eyes healthy. “We take care of lots of eye diseases and emergencies,” she says, “but not everything can be cured. The best bet is prevention and early diagnosis.” She advises wearing protective eyewear if you are using tools, such as a weed eater, which can send debris flying into your eyes. For kids, eye goggles offer added protection from balls and nerf guns.

Eating a healthy diet rich with leafy greens, getting exercise and keeping track of your general health can also lead to healthy vision. Conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and blood pressure should be monitored by a primary care physician since these can lead to vision problems.

Routine screening for adults is also important. “If you have a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, it’s a good idea to be screened,” Seager says. “We are here to help.”

If you are experiencing a serious eye disorder, please visit www.valleyhealthlink.com/our-locations/valley-health-eye-specialists.