The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University and the National Eye Institute have declared May Healthy Vision Month. The goal is to increase awareness about the importance of annual comprehensive dilated eye exams for the early diagnosis and treatment of eye health.
Vision changes as people get older, but vision loss is not a normal part of aging. Common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) threaten millions of Americans, potentially robbing them of vision, mobility and independence. New discoveries are yielding sight-saving treatments, but early diagnosis, timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care are essential to preventing irreversible vision loss.
Educate your patients that early stages of common eye diseases typically have no symptoms and can only be detected through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Point out to patients that pupil dilation allows a doctor to closely examine the back of the eye for signs of eye disease.
Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, which relays visual information from the retina to the brain. The retina is the light-sensing layer of tissue in the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy—a complication of diabetes—causes swelling, leakage, and blockage of the blood vessels that nourish the retina. AMD occurs when cells in the center part of the retina, called the macula, break down.
People at higher risk of glaucoma include African-Americans age 40 and older; everyone age 60 and older, especially Mexican-Americans; and people with a family history of the disease. People at risk of diabetic retinopathy include people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. People over 50 years old, Caucasian, smokers, and those with a family history of AMD are at greater risk of AMD.
