Released August 22, 2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Many people may fear losing their eyesight more than losing any of their other senses and more than losing their memory and their ability to walk, according to a 2006 American Optometric Association (AOA) survey. With routine eye exams, eye protection and a vision-healthy diet, you can preserve your sight.

"Those who wear glasses or contact lenses should see a vision professional once a year, and people with specific eye problems may need attention even more often," said Margaret Harris, extension health specialist and assistant professor with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

When children get their eyes checked at school, the vision screenings performed are not the same as comprehensive eye exams. Eye doctors check for eye and other diseases that have no early symptoms. Instruments in the eye doctor's office test for eye conditions, such as nearsightedness, and eye diseases, such as glaucoma.

According to AOA, children should have their eyes checked at six months of age, checked at 3 and 6 years old, and then checked every two years until they are age 18. Adults should have their eyes checked every two to three years until age 40, every two years until age 60, and yearly after that.

"Aging is a risk factor for conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts, which is why older people are recommended to get their eyes checked more often," Harris said.

The following are common eye problems or diseases explained:

• Glaucoma

-- By the time Americans reach the age of 65, a third of them have some sort of vision-impairing disease. The leading cause of blindness is glaucoma (affecting more than 3 million people, with African Americans being most at risk).

• Diabetic retinopathy:

-- Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness (and more than 16 million people currently have diabetes). If you have diabetes, be checked for diabetic retinopathy.

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

-- AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans who are 65 and older, affecting about 10 million people in the US.

• Cataracts

-- More than half of the people 65 and over have cataracts, clouds that form over the eye blurring or dulling vision

• Other common problems

-- Dry eye: increasing in prevalence and can be due to not enough tears, lacking of quality of tears, aging, environmental factors and some medications

-- Conjunctivitis (Pink eye): Inflammation of the outer clear layer of the eye due to bacteria, virus or allergies

-- Styes: Infection or abcess of eyelid gland near eyelash roots

-- Blepharitis: chronic and long-term inflammation of the eyelids and eyelashes, affecting people of all ages, and can be due to poor hygiene, allergic reaction or bacterial infection

Television and computer screens may cause eye strain, if viewers sit too close and constantly look at them. It is important not to watch TV and computer screens without taking breaks, Harris said.

The American Academy of Opthalmology states that bright sunlight increases the risk of cataracts, AMD and growths on the eye, which include cancer. The longer the eye is exposed to bright sunlight, the greater the risk for damage, and your eyes don't recover from this kind of sun damage. This not only relates to staring at the sun, but also sunlight that reflects off snow, pavement, sand, water, etc.

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we can protect our eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses. This protects the eyes from UV radiation and from developing cataracts. Sunglasses should block UVA and UVB rays. The majority of sunglasses sold in the U.S., regardless of cost or color, meets this standard.

Safety goggles are needed, if you are in or around an activity, such as sawing wood, that may damage your eyes, Harris advised.

"For better eye health, plenty of green, leafy vegetables, two servings of fish per week, some nuts and some yellow or orange fruits and vegetables needs to be included in the diet," she said.

For more information about eye health or sight preservation, please contact your county extension agent or visit http://www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/august2008/0822eyehealth.htm

Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu