Summary- Prevent Blindness America is the nations leading patient and consumer advocate dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. The group uses April as their awareness month to promote healthy eyes.
Story- There are many definitions of blindness. The most common measurement of blindness according to local Optometrist, Dr. Philip Raber, O.D. is by a persons visual acuity.
Visual acuity means what letters they can read on the eye chart, Raber explained. The term, legally blind means vision that is 20/400 or worse. To put this into perspective, 20/400 is difficulty with the big E at the top of the eye chart even with glasses.
Legally blind equates to very poor vision, but yet being able to see some, Raber said. In other words the individual has mobility and can get around even if they cant see much detail.
Legal blindness is a big issue that affects more than one million people in the United States. Raber said that even though doctors are better able to prevent and treat eye conditions that cause blindness, the number of people who are blind is on the increase.
Part of the reason blindness is increasing is due to the fact that people are living longer, Raber said. Since most blinding eye diseases happen to seniors, this creates a serious concern. The main causes of blindness are cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Each of these eye disorders is very different from each other. They affect different parts of the eye, and they also are very different in terms of how treatable they may be.
In addition to eye diseases, eye injuries are a major concern to eye health. Each year in the U.S. alone, there are approximately 600,000 documented sports-related eye injuries. Because of this the Prevent Blindness America organization strongly encourages all individuals and especially children to wear proper eye protection when participating in sports.
With sports such as baseball and softball gearing up in the spring, now is an ideal time to remind everyone to make sure that proper eye protection is part of the uniform, stated Jeff Todd, COO of Prevent Blindness America.
It is estimated that nearly ninety percent of sports related eye injuries can be prevented through proper use of protective eyewear. This is important because injuries to the eyes can result in temporary or permanent vision loss.
Raber said the best way for an individual to take care of their vision is to make sure they receive regular eye examinations.
Believe it or not, regular eye examinations should begin at age six-months, he said. The American Optometric Association recommends the first eye exam take place between ages 6 to 12
months. There are many preventable vision problems but they need to be detected as soon as possible and that's why I strongly
encourage parents to bring in their children for "routine" eye exams. All students should be getting their eyes checked every year, as well as seniors over the age of 60. The in-between years of 18 - 60 should
include an eye exam at least every 2 years.
Visual impairment is one of the most devastating occurrences that can happen to an individual. Raber said that losing vision at an older age may affect a persons ability to work, drive or enjoy leisure activities such as reading. Visual impairment also alters someones independence, which can be debilitating emotionally as well as physically.
There is good news though, Raber said. The good news is that there are many advances to medical care for the eye diseases that cause blindness. Cataracts for example are a problem that can be completely taken care of by surgery. There are also new devices and new technology that allow people with low vision to do the things they need to do. These low vision aids can greatly help someone with very poor vision regain their independence.
Many times we take our eyesight for granted. Vision is truly one of the most important senses and we need to make sure we are doing everything possible to promote good eye health for ourselves and our loved ones. If you have children, take them for an eye examination and be certain youre up to date on your own eye exam. There are many problems and issues that can be detected during a routine eye exam. Your vision is too important to take for granted.
Each individual's health is unique, and blindness can be caused many different problems, Raber added. But one thing that is true for everyone, is that regular eye exams are the best way to prevent losing vision. If it has been over a year, you are probably due for checking your sight. It's one of the most precious senses.
