Vision Health Month

vision health month pag e 2 I t's an unfortunate fact that many people take good eyesight for granted. While they regularly take their car to the mechanic to keep it running smoothly, they neglect getting their eyes checked regularly. That neglect can be costly. Without regular eye exams, debilitating diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma can set in, and damage caused by diabetes can go unchecked. Consequently, it's imperative that everyone — from infants to seniors — should undergo thorough eye exams regularly, says optometrist Dr. Natasha Sookermany. "All three of these issues can be prevented, provided they're detected early," she says. "If you're proactive — which means taking the time to come in for an eye exam — your optometrist can pinpoint potential problems and prescribe treatment that will prevent them from becoming a serious issue." Of the three diseases — they're all very serious — glaucoma may be the worst due to one factor. "It's a silent condition, so there really aren't any outward signs of it until your vision changes. When that happens, it's in its end stages, and is irreversible." What exactly is glaucoma? "Simply put, it's the degeneration of the optic nerve. That degeneration happens when pressure builds up in the eye and deprives the nerve of oxygen," explains Sookermany. "That's just one factor. If you have a family history of glaucoma, issues with your peripheral vision, or are over 45, you should be checked regularly." once glaucoma sets in, the results are irreversible. "You essentially lose your peripheral vision from the outside in," she says. "It starts with the nasal part of your vision, which makes it hard to detect because with our binocular vision, one eye will cover for the other. Keeping up with regular visits is more critical with glaucoma than most other conditions because it is so difficult to detect." Another condition that's difficult to detect is macular degeneration, a disease that is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 60 and older. "It's a disease that affects the central part of the eye, which is called the macula," she says. "The cell regeneration cycle breaks down, causing deposits to build up at the back of the eye. Left unchecked, macular degeneration will cause a spot that just continues to get bigger and bigger in the centre of your vision." There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Signs of the dry condition include blurred vision, a spot in a person's vision, or the need to change eyeglass prescriptions frequently. Meanwhile, the wet version of the disease is quick acting, and comes from the dry version, or can develop quickly without prior diagnosis of the dry version. "With the wet version of macular degeneration, new blood vessels that have grown into the macula burst. In this case, the damage can't be reversed, however some treatments can be considered. If you come in for regular eye exams, we can see the condition developing years before it becomes an issue." Sookermany adds that people with light coloured eyes — or who are of north European descent — can avoid developing the condition by doing three things. "First, you should wear sunglasses (ideally wrap-around models) and a hat from a young age. If you aren't doing that, start doing it now. Second, follow a diet high in antioxidants and Omega 3s. Third, don't smoke; smokers have an eight- times higher chance of developing the disease due to nicotine build-up," she says. "If you have a familial predisposition, you need to do all of the above — and, of course, come in for regular check-ups." Last but not least is blindness that results from diabetes going unchecked. "When the regulation of glucose in your body is poorly controlled (diabetes), blood vessels start to shut down and new blood vessels sprout in the eyes," she says. "Leakage can occur, which causes the retina to swell. That can cause blurred vision or blind spots. If the condition is severe, you can go blind." The onset of all three conditions can be prevented by doing one simple thing, emphasizes Sookermany. "If you keep up with regular visits, we can monitor your eyes and catch those conditions in their earliest stages before they become a critical issue. Being proactive is the only way to insure you don't put your eyesight at risk." ◗ Prevention is critical By Todd Lewys For The Free Press Dr. Natasha Sookermany says people need to set aside the time to get their eyes checked. Photo by Darcy Finley

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