In May, Vision Health Month raises awareness about the importance of routine eye exams for good eye health and the prevention of vision loss.
Lethbridge-based optometrist Dr. Jim Asuchak says good vision is crucial throughout all stages of your life. “A lot of times concerns can exist without any symptoms, so Vision Health Month is a reminder to make sure you’re getting routine exams. That way, if there are any problems or concerns, it can be detected earlier.”
Often, people think they’re seeing great, so they think they must have good eye health, Asuchak notes. “A lot of times, that just isn’t the case. There’s certain tests we can do or things we can run. That way if there’s any concerns, we can detect them as early as possible.”
Asuchak adds one in four school-aged children can have vision concerns and a lot of times those kids don’t realize they have vision issues. “Because they think it’s just normal for them and it’s always been that way – 80 per cent of learning is through vision. We want to make sure they have the best chance possible.”
With seniors, Asuchak says, the older you get, “the more risk there is for certain eye conditions. It’s crucial for them to maintain good vision to be independent and have good mobility.”
Some of the big things that can happen as you get older include glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. “Those are definitely some of the leading concerns for vision loss.”
According to Asuchak, with diabetes, the goal is to get a really good look at the back of the eyes. “Diabetes, high blood pressure and certain systemic conditions can have effects on the eyes. A lot of times, the effect they have can exist without symptoms. They can be first detected through an eye exam or it’s an effective way of monitoring how things are going.”
“Particularly with diabetes, a lot of the primary eye care happens through optometry just for access to care, it’s a lot easier method to access the health system and get it monitored. If there are concerns that show up, we can work with the family physician or we can work with optomology if further care is needed,” Asuchak explains.
Asuchak says make sure to get family members checked, as well. “Parents are so good at getting their kids checked, but it’s also important for parents to get checked and older family members to make sure everything is healthy and get treated early if there are any concerns.”
