When we think about the importance of healthy vision, the first things that come to mind are often the most obvious, like reading, driving, recognizing faces or watching television. But our eyes play a much bigger role in our daily lives than many people realize. In fact, proper vision can impact everything from our safety and productivity to how we interact with others and even our overall health. Here are some less obvious ways healthy vision shapes your everyday experience, and why regular vision care is so important.
The Not-So-Obvious Ways Healthy Vision Shapes Your Day
There can be countless times throughout the day when your vision is working behind the scenes, almost invisibly, to keep you safe, efficient, and connected. These moments can determine a person’s overall quality of life, which is why proper vision care means so much. Look at a few examples of healthy vision in action, making our days better.
- Cooking
There’s usually a lot going on in the kitchen when preparing a meal. Slicing vegetables, reading labels, or cleaning up a spill on a patterned floor are all tasks that require different aspects of your visual system to work well together. Your eyes are the first line of defense in the kitchen and help with everything from reading expiration dates to spotting mold on food or making sure meat is thoroughly cooked through. Healthy vision goes beyond just reading a recipe by helping you avoid dangerous things like foodborne illness and kitchen accidents.
- Maintaining Balance
Many people don’t realize that healthy vision plays an essential role in maintaining proper balance. Your brain uses visual cues, along with information from your inner ear and muscles, to help you stay upright. If your vision is off, your balance may suffer, especially in dimly-lit places or on uneven surfaces. That might mean more trips, stumbles, or even falls, especially for older adults.
- Navigating Unfamiliar or Crowded Places
Whether you are walking in a dimly-lit restaurant, busy grocery store, crowded airport or unfamiliar town square, you are making constant use of your peripheral vision and depth perception to navigate the environment. Your eyes must continually adjust to interpret visual clues, such as uneven sidewalks, moving objects or changing lighting, in order to avoid tripping, falling or other accidents. Without healthy vision, these environments can be overwhelming or even dangerous.
- Social Interactions
Interacting with others can be difficult for anyone, regardless of the state of their visual health. However, healthy vision can play a big role in making social interactions easier. A large part of communication is non-verbal. Interpreting non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, shifts in eye contact or subtle body language, can help you better understand and interpret the emotions or meaning behind the conversation. When healthy vision is at work, people can have a better opportunity to have more meaningful, confident conversations.
The Importance of Regular Vision Exams for Healthy Vision and Beyond
Vision impacts so many hidden parts of your life, and it is often taken for granted – until something goes wrong. That is one of the most important reasons for visiting us at The Family Vision Development Center for a vision exam every year. Many common eye conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, develop slowly and without noticeable symptoms in the early stages. A comprehensive vision exam can catch these issues early, before they cause permanent damage.
A vision exam can also reveal more than just vision problems. In fact, these exams can help us detect symptoms of serious health issues, such as diabetes , high blood pressure or even neurological disorders – making vision care a vital part of your overall health.
Healthy vision supports your safety and overall quality of life, so schedule an appointment now for a comprehensive vision exam in order to protect it! Contact our Aurora location at 630-862-2020 to find a convenient time for your schedule.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.