Eye Care Month

The Sight & Hearing Association, in partnership with the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology, promotes the importance of healthy eyes during January, deemed National Eye Care Month. It is extremely important to have your eyes checked on a regular basis by an ophthalmologist. Many of the most common forms of eye disease, such as glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy, when caught in the early stages, can be successfully treated. If not caught in time, these diseases can lead to visual loss and blindness.

Guidelines for receiving baseline, comprehensive exams include:

For kids: Get eyes checked by age 4; or younger if there’s family history of childhood vision problems or if they have wandering or crossed eyes.

Ages 20-65: Have eyes checked very two to four years if you are between 40- and 65-years-old. If under 40, visit the ophthalmologist if you experience any problems, such as visual changes, pain, flashes of light, new floaters or tearing, or if you sustain an injury to the eye. Those with diabetes should also be checked more frequently. Adults of African descent are at higher risk for glaucoma and should schedule their visits more often.

Age 65 and older: Have your eyes checked every one to two years.

For free fact sheets on various eye diseases, click on our Sight Center (eye logo) or call us at 800/992-0424.