Celebrate World Optometry Day with Clarkson Eyecare
World Optometry Day is on the 23rd of March this year, and Clarkson Eyecare plans to spend it educating our patients and community about the importance of maintaining healthy vision. We invite you to learn more about the eye, common eye conditions, and how to keep your vision healthy and clear for years.
In this article, we learn more about World Optometry Day, go over some quick facts about common eye conditions, and discuss the importance of routine vision care.
What is World Optometry Day?
World Optometry Day is a celebration held every year by eye care professionals around the globe. Its main purpose is to recognize the importance vision care plays in the larger role of health care and to help patients discover more about eye health.
The first World Optometry Day was celebrated in 1992. The International Optometric and Optical League (now officially the World Council of Optometry) created it to drive attention to the need for eye care worldwide. Each year has a particular theme it highlights to bring special attention to a specific part of eye care. 2024’s theme is, appropriately, ” Advancing Optometry’s Commitment to Global Eye Care.”
Join us at your nearest Clarkson Eyecare as we reaffirm our commitment to the eye health of our patients. Book an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam today!
The Importance of Eye Health
We often take our eyes for granted, not realizing just how much of an impact sight has on our daily routines and our outlook on life. It’s only once we’ve begun to lose our eyesight that we truly begin to grasp just how all-encompassing this sense truly is. At Clarkson Eyecare, we’ve devoted ourselves to helping our patients achieve their best possible vision and maintain it as long as possible because we know how fundamental it is to living a long, happy, quality life.
Like any part of your body, your eyes need regular care to function at their best. This is even more important when you consider there are eye conditions that can quickly rob you of your sight without proper, timely care. The best thing you can do to keep your eyes healthy and strong is to be seen by an eye doctor at least once a year for a routine eye exam.
Routine eye exams allow doctors to assess your eye health, update prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses, and detect serious eye conditions that may be lurking below the surface before they become a major problem. Keep in mind some patients with chronic eye conditions like macular degeneration will likely need more frequent eye care to manage their eye health. But everyone should aim to have at least one routine eye exam yearly.
Common Eye Conditions to Watch Out For
As mentioned before, there are several eye conditions that can quickly harm your vision if left unchecked. While some of these conditions are inevitable and can be treated quite easily, some of the scarier diseases arrive without warning and need immediate treatments prescribed by an eye doctor.
Here are some of the most common eye conditions we see and treat.
Eye Infections
Just as there are many types of illnesses of the body, many different infections can impact the eyes. They range from common, like Pink Eye, to more serious, like keratitis. Most infections are uncomfortable, producing redness, swelling, and an itchy or burning sensation. But all infections of the eye need treatment.
If left untreated, you could develop uveitis, characterized by red, swollen, and painful eyes and blurred vision. Uveitis, like many eye infections, can lead to permanent vision loss without proper treatment.
If you have an eye infection, book an appointment with your Clarkson eye doctor immediately.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the scarier eye conditions on this list. It’s often called “the silent thief of sight,” and for good reason. Most people don’t know they even have glaucoma because symptoms in the early stages are non-existent. However, when symptoms start showing up, permanent damage to your vision has already occurred.
Regular eye exams are important because they can catch glaucoma in its early stages before it can cause serious vision issues. Treating glaucoma is usually pretty straightforward. Medications can be used to lower the pressure in the eye to prevent damage, while routine surgeries may be required occasionally to remove blockages from your eye’s natural drainage system to prevent pressure from increasing again.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This condition typically affects patients over the age of 60 and can result in loss of vision if not treated. Macular degeneration is a condition of the macula, the part of the retina that helps you see central vision. AMD slowly damages the macula until it becomes difficult to read, recognize fine details, or even make out faces.
In its early stages, AMD has no symptoms that you would normally perceive. However, trained eye doctors can recognize the early signs of macular degeneration during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Catching macular degeneration early is crucial because the earlier treatment begins, the higher the chances that more of your vision can be saved.
There is currently no cure for AMD, so consistent treatment is the best option to save your vision. If you’re over 60, you should be getting a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year from your eye doctor. Make sure to keep your appointment so your doctor can detect AMD early if you have it.
Cataracts
Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions affecting people over 40. In fact, about 50% of Americans will suffer cataracts at some point in their life. Cataracts are a condition characterized by the clouding of your eye’s natural lens. As your lens ages, proteins within it begin to break down and clump together, producing an opaque covering that blocks light entering the eye.
Symptoms of cataracts include double vision, clouded vision, faded colors, trouble seeing in dim light, such as while driving at night, sensitivity to glare, and seeing halos around lights.
The good news is, because this condition is so common, we know plenty of ways to treat it. There are several quick and effective surgeries that can eliminate cataracts and even replace them with an intraocular lens that helps to correct your vision.
Join Us for World Optometry Day!
The experts at Clarkson Eyecare are here to keep your vision clear and healthy for years to come. Our highly experienced eye doctors use the latest eye care technology to detect, diagnose, and treat common eye conditions before they damage your vision.
Celebrate World Optometry Day and our commitment to better global eye care in the best way possible: With a routine eye exam! Now is the perfect time to ensure your vision is in top shape. Call your local Clarkson Eyecare practice or book an appointment online.
Better vision is just a call or click away!