May is Healthy Vision Month!

During the month of May, CDC’s Vision Health Initiative partners with the National Eye Institute to encourage all Americans to take care of their eyes. Start by getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam to check for common eye problems. Then, get into the habit of making eye care a priority just like eating healthy and physical activity.

Although older adults tend to have more vision problems, children can have eye problems, as well. Just one out of every seven preschoolers receives an eye exam, and fewer than one out of every four receives some type of vision screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screening for all children aged three to five years to find conditions such as amblyopia, or lazy eye. These conditions can be treated effectively if caught early.

A regularly scheduled eye exam is essential for everyone to maintain optimum eye health and uncover any hidden eye problems. It’s estimated eleven million Americans aged 12 years and older could see better if they used corrective lenses or had eye surgery, if appropriate. To help alleviate eye problems that may occur, here are nine ways you can help protect your vision:

1. Get regular comprehensive dilated eye exams.
2. Eat right to protect your sight –eat plenty of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, and fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and halibut.
3. Quit smoking or never start.
4. Practice workplace eye safety, if appropriate for your work environment.
5. Know your family’s eye health history. It is important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, as some conditions are hereditary.
6. Maintain a healthy weight.
7. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home, such as painting, yard work, and home repairs.
8. Wear sunglasses that block 99 percent-100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.
9. Wash your hands before taking out your contacts and cleanse your contact lenses properly to avoid infection.