(http://www.maculardegenerations.com) People who see their eye doctor for routine exams can address possible eye conditions sooner rather than later, reported the Nigerian Tribune on June 14.
According to the article, experts say that people who get their eyes checked regularly can be made aware of cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy while there is time to slow down progression.
With AMD cases prevalent all around the world, the problem is only expected to get worse as populations continue to age. Maintaining an ideal weight, refraining from smoking, eating lots of leafy green vegetables and consuming foods with omega-3 fatty acids can help people to safeguard their eye health, but this does not lessen the importance of regular eye tests. Such tests can detect eye ailments so that doctors can prescribe treatments to potentially control adverse conditions. Without these routine tests, people might not be diagnosed with eye disease until it is too late.
The article indicated that people who are older 40 than need to be particularly careful when it concerns their eye health, in the same way that they should pay attention to things like cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar. Specifically, this demographic should see their eye doctor every 36 to 60 months. Furthermore, those older than 60, of those with complications on the eye health front, should get their eyes tested more regularly.
According to the article, people need to take all eye issues seriously and should not merely dismiss what could potentially be early symptoms of eye disease. For instance, things such as eye redness, dull vision or tenacious headaches could be signs that eye ailments are starting to come into play. Only by getting eye tests routinely will people be able to keep on top of their eye health.
The article cited Adeyinka Ashaye, a professor and a consultant ophthalmologist at the University College Hospital, as saying that in excess of four million Nigerians have come down with glaucoma even though it is well known that the eye condition sits at No. 2 on the list of the country’s leading causes of blindness. According to the article, cataracts is in the No. 1 slot.
Reference: http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/your-health/42535-why-regular-eye-checks-prevents-blindness
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