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When was the last time you had your eyes checked?
Chances are, it’s been a while.
Eye disorders are some of the most common conditions seen in clinical practice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 93 million adults are at high risk for serious vision loss—but only half had visited an eye doctor within the last 12 months.
Maintaining healthy vision requires more than regular eye doctor checkups. Prevention and early detection of serious eye disease can help preserve your eyesight.
You can see fine, you say? Don’t wait until you have vision problems to see a doctor. Regular checkups with an eye doctor can help you track changes in your vision and stay on top of potential problems that could affect it.
Vision directly relates to quality of life. Unfortunately, we often don’t appreciate good vision until it’s impaired or gone. Thankfully, there are things doctors can do that can preserve or improve vision.
In Episode 52, Dr. G and his guest, Courtney Crawford, MD, FACS, a board-certified ophthalmologist, explain common sight issues and share the best ways to maintain good vision.
Guest
Myths vs. Facts
“It’s not necessary to get an eye exam unless you notice specific issues.” - Myth
Everyone should have at least a baseline eye exam.
“A cataract must be “ripe” before it is removed.” - Myth
Today cataract surgery is done much sooner, even before they’re “ripe.”
“Wearing someone else’s glasses will ruin your vision.” - Depends
It could contribute to eye fatigue, strain and headaches, but probably won’t harm adult vision. It can potentially ruin a young child’s vision by inhibiting growth of connections between eyes and the brain.
“90% of blindness caused by diabetes is preventable.” - Depends
For those with type 2 diabetes, yes.
“Vision loss does not cause a substantial social and economic toll for millions of people, including significant suffering, disability, loss of productivity and diminished quality of life.” - Myth
Vision loss causes all those problems.
“Squinting is bad for your eyes.” - Myth
It just means you probably need a new pair of glasses.
“You won’t get glaucoma if you have perfect vision.” - Myth
Those are two separate issues. Glaucoma involves the optic nerve. If the nerve is damaged, you can still have good vision, but at some point, vision will be affected.
“My child has a lazy eye and nothing can be done about it.” - Myth
There’s always something that can be done.
“Nothing can be done to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).” - Myth
There is medicine that can halt the progression of wet macular degeneration. In wet AMD, a less common but more serious type of AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and macula.
“Refractive disorders can be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or, in some cases, surgery.” - Fact
Refractive disorders are the most frequent eye problems in the U.S.
Listener healthy OH-YEAH!
“I got in a 1.25 mile walk with my dog and then did a 1.75 mile run with a 10-pound weighted backpack while doing squats every minute on the minute, starting with 1, working up to 25, then back down.” – T.M.
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