“75% of vision impairment in Australia is preventable.” – (ABS 21/03/2022) Yet every 65 minutes an Australian loses part or all their vision.
Get your eyes tested this July!
julEYE is The Eye Foundation’s eye health awareness month that takes place during July each year. julEYE has three core aims:
- To raise community awareness of eye health issues.
- To raise funding for research projects into the causes and cures of vision impairment and blindness.
- To support international development projects whose goals are aligned with those of The Foundation.
(Source: Your Health Link, 2021).
The most common causes of vision loss and blindness in Australia are macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Many of these conditions are hereditary and can be identified in regular eye checks. (The RANZCO Eye Foundation – www.vision2020australia.org.au )
How often should you get your eyes checked?
According to Vision Australia (2022), regular eye check-ups are recommended for people without eye diseases or specific risk factors every second year with a registered eye care practitioner (optometrist or ophthalmologist).
You may need to get your eyes tested more regularly if you have a health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, history of a stroke, neurological conditions or if you have been diagnosed with an eye condition.
How do I protect my eyes?
Good habits for good eye health.
These are our top tips to maintaining healthy eyesight:
- Get regular eye tests – At least every 2 years. Most serious eye conditions are more easily and successfully treated if diagnosed early.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle – Diets high in anti-oxidants (such as from green leafy vegetables), Omega 3 fatty acids (such as from fish, linseeds), various vitamins (including Vitamins E and C) and minerals (including Zinc and Selenium) can help prevent or slow progression of macular degeneration in some people. Good eating habits combined with exercise help prevent diabetes, which is a significant cause of vision loss in Australia (Vision Australia – 2022)
- Keep in control of your health issues – blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Follow advice if you are under the care of an eye health professional
- Prevent digital eyestrain – Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause: eyestrain, blurry vision, trouble focusing at a distance, dry eyes, headaches, neck, back and shoulder pain. Remember to follow the 20/20/20 rule. According to the American Optometric Association, to prevent digital eye strain you should: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
- Find out if you’re at risk of eye diseases – Hereditary, family history, lifestyle factors, etc.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses – Protect your eyes from sun damage and make sure your sunglasses meet Australian Standards (protection from UVA and UVB)
- Wear eye protection – Wearing the proper eye protection will prevent injuries from activities such as DIY and certain sports or in a dangerous environment.
- Don’t smoke – Smoking tobacco is directly linked to age-related macular degeneration and many other eye and health problems.
- Be aware of other health conditions and medications that may affect your eyes.