Most people understand the importance of seeing their medical doctor for regular exams in order to maintain their health. But seeing an eye doctor for vision exams on a regular basis is just as important in order to maintain proper eye heath. Here’s what you can do to protect your vision at any age.
Start Early
The old saying about the early bird catching the worm is an accurate one, as many eye conditions are more effectively treated the earlier they are detected. Unfortunately, many children are not getting regular eye exams, instead relying on simple screenings that do not detect many forms of eye disease. For example, Amblyopia, a vision development disorder, can affect 2-3% of all children. If promptly treated, vision loss can be avoided. But if left untreated, it can escalate to the point of legal blindness.
Start Later
Even though the best time to start your visits to the eye doctor is while you are young, it is OK to start later in life. Don’t get the idea that if you did not have eye exams as a child, there is no point going as an adult. It is never too late to start caring for your eyes! There are many treatment options available for adults so don’t hesitate to address any vision concerns as you get older.
Prevent Eye Diseases with Continued Care
As you age, regular eye exams can detect many eye diseases that can cause serious damage if not treated such as:
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Age-related macular degeneration
Many eye diseases start without any symptoms and therefore go unnoticed for long periods of time, making treatment options more difficult in some cases. A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to detect these diseases in their early stages when treatment is most effective for preventing vision loss.
Establish Routine Vision Exams for the Whole Family
The best way to maintain healthy vision is to establish a schedule for exams for each member of the family and stick to it. It is recommended the children get their first exam at 6 months, then at age 3 and again before kindergarten. Eye exams should be performed on an annual basis after age 5 and throughout life. People with diabetes and those with a higher risk for glaucoma should get a dilated eye exam every year.
Regular visits to your optometrist can keep your vision strong throughout your life. Contact Family Vision Development Center in Aurora at 630-862-2020 to schedule an appointment for each of your family members to get started on better eye health.
Adult vision therapy is a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain, and consists of specialized “eye exercises” that help to recover or develop important visual skills. Typical vision therapy programs are often recognized as a great way to help children correct their vision, improve their reading skills, increase their athletic ability and even feel better about themselves. But the fact is, it can do the same amazing things for adults! It’s never too late for self-improvement. And while glasses or contacts alone may not be the best way to correct your vision, a customized adult vision therapy program just might give you the results you are looking for. Here are a few important ways that vision therapy can make a difference in an adult’s life.
- Improve performance at work – the right adult vision therapy program can improve hand-eye coordination, the ability to read things up close (such a book or computer) and the ability to concentrate. These visual improvements not only improve performance, but can also reduce stress in the workplace and make you a more productive worker.
- Reduce headaches – more than 15% of adults experience severe headaches or migraines. Both of these are common symptoms of a binocular vision problem (a condition in which the eyes don’t align properly). An adult vision therapy program can improve the communication between the eyes and brain, correct the binocular vision disorder and alleviate the headaches.
- Correct eye turns (strabismus) – while commonly experienced by children, adults can also suffer from strabismus, or eye turns. This can present as inward or outward crossing of one or both eyes, and can be consistent or intermittent. Vision therapy is highly effective for improving eye alignment, eye movements, focusing and more.
- Restore vision following a stroke or concussion – a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including a concussion, stroke, sports-related head injury, car accident or other violent blow to the head, can severely impact the visual system. A vision therapy program known as neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help restore visual impairment that has resulted from a TBI.
- Improve overall feeling of well-being – experiencing a vision disorder can have the same effect on an adult as it does on a child. A daily struggle with underdeveloped visual skills can have a big impact on your overall emotional health. Adult vision therapy is a great way to improve overall performance, motivation and self-confidence, which can result in more happiness at home and with your family.
Family Vision doctors are adult vision therapy specialists
Our vision therapy specialists have extensive experience and advanced training in a variety of techniques, including advanced therapy such as vision rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury and syntonic light therapy. We treat patients of all ages, and will customize your treatment plan according to your specific vision correction needs. Contact our Aurora office at 630-862-2020 to learn more or to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.
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