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Eye health for everyone is a vision for the future by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver 5 | Friday, June 20, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com It was after a routine appointment with her optometrist that Pamela Lewis discovered she had age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lewis had no symptoms or any clue that something was amiss. Without that diagnosis, her condition would have been left untreated and progressed more quickly. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. It causes damage to the macula, near the centre of the retina and the part of the eye that lets us see objects straight ahead. Since that day 25 years ago, Lewis has been on a regimen of eye drops and regular check-ups. Through these, she was also later diagnosed with glaucoma and cataracts. Not legally blind Though not legally blind, the 82-year-old Oakville resident has low vision. This is a level of vision that cannot be fully corrected with glasses. A person with low vision has some useful sight but low vision interferes with daily activities. Lewis can no longer drive and has buttons on her electronic equipment and appliances to guide her where to push through touch. She has a special computer and reads with DAISY digital talking books. "I would tell everyone to get their eyes checked regularly," Lewis said. "The tests are painless. It takes up a bit of time, but it is very important." The CNIB is trying to spread this message too. And while May was officially vision health month, it's a message that resonates all the time. A recent CNIB study reported among Canadi- Tips for healthy vision Dr. Jeff Goodhew of Abbey Eye Care says children and seniors should see an optometrist every year and adults every two years. Other tips for eye health: · Give your eyes a break every 20 minutes from your computer or tablet screen. · Quit smoking. People who smoke are three to four times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration. · Exercise and eat well, especially leafy, green vegetables and omega 3 fatty acids. · Protect your eyes on the job. · Ensure children protect their eyes while playing sports. · In children, watch for sensitivity to light, squinting, red or itchy eyes and excessive blinking. · The whole family should wear sunglasses year round. · Manage conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which can affect eye health. · Watch for reduced night vision, increased light sensitivity or difficulty distinguishing colours. I would tell everyone to get their eyes checked regularly. The tests are painless. It takes up a bit of time, but it is very important. Oakville resident Pamela Lewis But it is also important for children to have regular checkups with an optometrist. Much of early learning is visual "We recommend babies have an eye check between six and nine months to rule out any big issues and then again before they start school," said Dr. Jeff Goodhew, an optometrist at Abbey Eye Care in Oakville. "Much of early learning is visual, but only 14 per cent of children have an eye check before age six." Goodhew says children and seniors should see an optometrist every year and adults every two years. "People assume if they are seeing well, their eyes are healthy. More often than I'd like, patients come in seeing 20/20 and when I do the health portion of the exam, I find underlying disease. The eye chart is super important, but a check-up goes beyond that. We look at health as well." ans who hadn't had an eye exam in the past two years, more than half said the reason was that they have good vision. Many eye diseases have no symptoms But many serious eye diseases that can cause vision loss have no symptoms and can only be detected through an eye exam. One in seven Canadians will develop a serious eye disease in their lifetime and early detection can significantly lower your risk of vision loss. In fact, 75 per cent of vision loss is preventable or treatable. "Eye health is not as top of mind as other ar- eas, said Chris McLean, regional director, Service and Operations, CNIB Ontario-GTA. "There is not as much awareness about early detection. "At the CNIB, we see a lot of people who maybe could have prevented vision loss if they had regular checkups." After age 40, the number of cases of blindness or partial sight in Canada doubles. At 75, it triples. SUMMER Register for HSC CAMPS at www.hsc.on.ca Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! 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