TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR EYES SO THEY CAN TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU.

Vision is critical to daily living. It affects our quality of life – how we learn, communicate and work. We put our eyes through stressful situations every day – from poor lighting to strenuous work; from air pollution to potential infections. Even if you are lucky enough to have 20/20 vision, taking care of your eyes and protecting them against injury or infection is important to keeping your vision healthy.

Below are some of the many ways to help ensure good eyesight and overall health.

• Have regular eye exams – One of the best things you can do for your eyes is to have them checked on a regular basis. Eye care professionals can help detect vision disorders as well as many serious medical conditions such as diabetes, glaucoma, tumors, high blood pressure, strokes and high cholesterol. (1) Just like other health issues, early detection of eye problems can help catch minor problems before they turn major.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors – Wear UV blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes from excessive ultraviolet light from the sun. Too much UV exposure can damage your retina and cause lasting vision loss. It can also raise the risk of cataracts. (2)
• Pay attention to changes in your vision – Don’t wait until your next eye exam if you notice any changes in vision, including blurriness, dimness, blind spots or halos around lights.
• Take care of your overall health – Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol. And if you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar at a healthy level.
• Eat healthy – Eat foods that have plenty of antioxidants, such as leafy greens and vegetables.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet – Numerous studies have shown that antioxidants can possibly reduce the risk of cataracts.3 These antioxidants are obtained from eating a diet containing plentiful amounts of fruits and colorful or dark green vegetables. (3)
• Protect your eyes when playing sports – According to Prevent Blindness America (PBA), 90% of sports related eye injuries are preventable with proper eye protection. (4)
• Avoid cigarette smoking – Smoking may lead to vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration. (5)

Don’t take chances with your vision. Schedule your eye exam today.

Did you know? According to the World Health Organization (WHO) approximately 80% of all vision impairment globally is considered avoidable. (6)

Courtesy of CIGNA Health and Life Insurance Company

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with your doctor for appropriate examinations, treatment, testing, and care recommendations.

Download informational flyers from CIGNA below:

Take Good Care of Your Eyes
Regular Eye Exams
How to Use Your Plan
CIGNA Vision Claim Form

Footnotes:
1. “What Do Your Eyes Say About Your Health?” Vision Service Plan. Accessed November 2018. <https://www.vsp.com/comprehensive-eye-exam.html>
2. “Sunglasses: An Eye Care Must”. Vision Service Plan. Accessed November 2018. <https://www.vsp.com/choose-sunglasses.html>
3. “Eating for Healthy Vision.” Vision Service Plan. Accessed November 2018. <https://www.vsp.com/eating-healthy.html>
4. Eye Smart. “Eye Health in Sports and Recreation.” March 2016 <http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/eye-injuries/sports.cfm>
5. “Smoking and Age-Related Macular Degeneration”. Bright Focus Foundation. October 2018. <https://www.brightfocus.org/macular/article/smoking-and-age-related-macular>
6. WHO “Visual Impairment and Blindness.” October 2018. <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/>