During Healthy Vision Month, held each year in May, Minnesota Eye Consultants aims to educate and spread awareness on eye care. Eyesight has a huge impact on our day-to-day living which is why it’s important to be proactive and prioritize your eye health. Here are a few ways to preserve and protect your eyesight.
- Use Protective Eyewear
- Protecting your eyes can come in all different forms. If you work in an environment where your eyes are at risk of injury, make sure to wear safety goggles. Eyestrain from computers and screens are also common, this can be prevented by wearing blue light glasses.
- Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
- Consuming a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle may lower your risk of eye diseases. Drinking water and consuming vitamin-rich foods can help keep your eyes hydrated. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high-blood pressure, keeping up with a treatment plan can positively impact your vision.
- Knowing Your Family History
- Many eye diseases, like glaucoma, are hereditary. Understanding your family history and keeping your eye doctor informed can bring awareness and help them catch early symptoms. By informing your doctor, decisions about additional screenings and treatments can help manage your symptoms.
- Get Regular Eye Exams
- Eye conditions don’t always have symptoms in their early stages which means skipping an annual exam could have major consequences. By undergoing a dilated eye exam each year, your doctor can catch any concerning symptoms early, and take action as soon as possible.
Dr. Chase Liaboe, a Cataract and Glaucoma specialist at Minnesota Eye Consultants, spends much of his day caring for patients with glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, causing irreversible vision loss. Routine eye care is the best prevention for glaucoma, catching the disease as soon as possible. We asked Dr. Liaboe to share his thoughts on healthy vision as it pertains to patients living with glaucoma.
“With respect to the field of glaucoma, I think healthy vision is multi-faceted. It involves eyes that not only see well, but feel well: eyes that are not suffering from allergies related to glaucoma medications. Additionally, healthy vision in glaucoma requires a patient not to feel burdened by their disease – from frequent medication burden to frequent follow-ups. Finally, it requires comfort and reassurance that the glaucoma is stable and not progressing.” – Dr. Chase Liaboe
Everyday habits and knowing how to manage your vision can have an impact on your eye health and can help reduce your potential for vision loss. Don’t forget to schedule your yearly eye exam with your family eye doctor!
