Did you know that two-thirds of blindness and vision impairment occurs in women? Or that experts estimate that 75% of visual impairment is preventable or correctable.
Prevention and care for these issues is a priority during April, Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Even if you aren’t a woman, these issues should still be important to you -- think about your wife, your daughter, your mother. Conditions such as cataracts, dry eyes, Fuchs’ dystrophy, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are diagnosed in more women than men every year.
Not all of the vision issues are preventable, but many are much better treated if caught early. Here are some tips for women to help keep their eyes and vision health:
1. Get regular eye exams.
2. Know your family history and share it with your eye care provider.
3. Eat a healthy diet rich in beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.
4. Regularly take supplements.
5. Quit smoking, as it increases the risk of eye disease.
6. Wear eye protection to guard against UV light, which has been linked to cataract and AMD development later in life.
If you’re due for a comprehensive Dallas eye exam, now is the time to schedule it! Call Carter Eye Center at 214-775-2773.
