March is Save Your Vision Month

March is Save Your Vision Month

Vision impairment — including low vision — affects millions of Americans, among them, are many older adults. Vision impairment can make it hard to do everyday things such as reading, shopping, and even cooking. Standard treatments such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicines, and surgery aren’t able to fix it completely.

The good news is that vision rehabilitation services can help people with vision impairment learn how to stay independent and make the most of their sight. Low Vision Awareness Month is a great time to spread the word about vision rehabilitation and make sure that people with vision impairment know about the services available to them.

Find health education materials related to vision impairment and vision rehabilitation

Nine ways you can help protect your vision

-Get regular comprehensive dilated eye exams.

-Know your family’s eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition since some are hereditary.

-Eat right to protect your sight: In particular, eat plenty of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, and fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, albacore tuna, trout, and halibut.

-Maintain a healthy weight.

-Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home, such as painting, yard work, and home repairs.

-Quit smoking or never start.

-Wear sunglasses that block 99 percent-100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.

-Wash your hands before taking out your contacts and cleanse your contact lenses properly to avoid infection.

-Practice workplace eye safety.

Take care of your eyes to make them last a lifetime.

Learn more at National Eye Institute

The National Eye Institute’s Steps to Prevent Eye Strain:

It’s probably easy to think of a situation where you’ve dealt with the effects of eyestrain.

The American Osteopathic Association reports that because more workers are spending more time in front of computer screens than ever before, the side effects from eyestrain – including blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, and frequent blinking – are increasingly common. Take this safety training advice and apply it to your workflow.

Take Breaks

Now, the best way to prevent eye strain is to decrease eye exertion, by making sure your eyes are only working as hard as they need to be.

-Taking regular rest breaks to relax your eyes is important.

-Shift your focus from near to far on a regular basis. Shift focus from up close to at least 20 feet away.

-If you are at your computer, look out the window for a minute. If you are driving, check your speedometer every so often.

Reduce Glare

Reducing glare from your computer or TV screen will also dramatically reduce the strain on your eyes.

-Use indirect or reflective lighting whenever possible.

-When you have to use a screen, make sure it is at a 90-degree angle from any direct light source.

-Try switching your monitor or TV to one with flat-screen technology. These reflect less light than the traditional, curved monitors.

-Use anti-glare technology, like anti-glare filters on monitors or anti-glare glasses when driving.

Adjust Contrast and Color

Learn more at American Osteopathic Association

Appropriate contrast can make the edges of shapes and objects more discernible, so the eyes don’t have to focus as much. But too much contrast with the surrounding area will cause strain through your peripheral vision.

-Use full-spectrum lighting. Lighting, like sunlight that covers the visual spectrum, makes things easier to see.

-Adjust the color setting on monitors and screens. Some even allow you to adjust the color temperature.

Until next time, stay positive and stay safe.

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