Archive for August, 2013
When to take your Child to the Eye Doctor for the First Time
As an adult, you realize the importance of visiting the eye doctor at least once a year – if not more. With that in mind, you may not know the first thing about taking your child to the optometrist. Specifically, you are unsure of when you should do this for the first time.
Although you may be a bit confused right now, this is not something to concern yourself with. Once you choose an eye doctor and get on schedule, everything will work out in the end.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), a child should visit the optometrist for the first time at roughly six months of age. It is then that the infant will experience his or her first eye exam.
Starting at the age of 3, it is recommended that children begin to see an eye doctor once a year.
Many parents don’t realize that eye exams for children are important. Did you know that roughly 25 percent of all school-aged children suffer from some sort of vision related problem? Not only can this be detrimental to their health, but it can hold them back from learning in the classroom.
Despite the fact that an annual exam is important, if your child appears to be having trouble with their eyes at any time, it is essential to schedule an appointment. This way any concern can be taken care of before it becomes a bigger issue.
If you have any questions about whether your child is too young to see an eye doctor, contact a qualified optometrist to discuss the situation.
Eat these Foods to Improve your Eye Health
There are many foods you can consume to improve your eye health. While some will have more of an effect on you than others, it is important to pay close attention to your diet to ensure that you are getting the proper nutrients.
Here are five foods that can go a long way in improving your eye health:
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Turkey
- Sweet potatoes
Like many, your mom probably told you when you were young that eating carrots would go a long way in keeping your eyes healthy. This is not a myth.
Along with carrots, there are other vegetables you should add to your regular diet. For example, bell peppers and broccoli are both beneficial to your eye health.
Many people are unaware that turkey is another food that improves eye health (not to mention the fact that it tastes good). You should add this to your diet more often, instead of simply waiting for Thanksgiving to come around once a year.
Turkey is a great option because it is rich in zinc, not to mention the fact that it has plenty of niacin. Did you know that the B-vitamin niacin can help fight off cataracts?
On top of the benefits to your eyes, these five foods taste good and can improve the health of the rest of your body as well.
Although you may not enjoy these five foods, each one can be prepared in a variety of ways. Why not add a couple of these to your diet? It will do wonders for your eye health.
Glaucoma: A Serious Eye Health Concern
Although most people realize the seriousness of glaucoma, there are some who are unsure of what this could mean to their eye health. This eye disease can be treated, but it is essential to deal with the issue as soon as possible.
It is important to note that glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can lead to blindness if not treated on time and in the appropriate manner. This is why it is important to regularly visit an optometrist who can check for this disease.
If you have the early onset of glaucoma, your doctor can continue to monitor the issue to ensure that it does not grow into a bigger problem. When and if the time comes, surgery may be scheduled to treat the disease.
Many people are unaware of the fact that glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, including the United States. It is often times a challenge to pinpoint whether or not glaucoma is present since the disease comes on gradually and a loss of vision may not be noticed until it reaches an advanced stage.
Fortunately, early diagnosis can help prevent any damage to the optic nerve. Subsequently, vision loss is not a concern.
If your eye doctor is not testing you for glaucoma, it is time to make a change. It is important that your intraocular pressure is tested at least once a year to ensure that you are not suffering from glaucoma.
As one of the most serious eye health concerns, everybody should be aware of the risks associated with glaucoma.
Tips for Protecting your Eyes
If you are not protecting your eyes you are making a big mistake. After all, this is not something you can overlook now and then fix at a later date. If something happens to your eyes, you have to live with it for the rest of your life.
Fortunately, there are some basic tips you can follow to ensure that you are protecting your eyes at all times:
- Visit the optometrist regularly
- Don’t wait too long to seek medical treatment if something is wrong with your eyes
- Protect your eyes when taking part in sports or other activities
The best thing you can do is visit your eye doctor on a regular basis. Let your optometrist tell you how often you should schedule a check up, and adhere to this schedule no matter what it takes. This may sound like a hassle, but your eye health is very important.
If you are not scheduled to see your optometrist but feel that something is wrong with your eyes, it makes good sense to move up your appointment. You never know when something serious is going on. The sooner the issue is taken care of the better off you are going to be.
Finally, if you are going to be participating in any event in which your eyes could be in harm’s way, such as an extreme sport, purchase the necessary protection.
These are just some of the many tips you can follow to protect your eyes at all times, regardless of your age or the type of life you live.
What Is a Stye?
Simply put, a stye is a pimple or abscess that occurs in the upper or lower eyelid. There are many myths about how and why styes appear, as well as how to get rid of a stye. If you wake up with a stye, do not be alarmed. Only an infected stye is harmful for your eye health. Overall, a stye is treatable and will go away within a few days. Styes are not comfortable or pretty to look at, but they are no reason to be alarmed for your eye health.