September is Save Your Sight month

Staff Reports

In honor of Save Your Sight Month in September, the Nevada Ophthalmological Society and EyeCare America, a national non-profit organization that provides eye exams and eye health information to medically underserved communities, provides five tips for a healthy aging eye.

"We find that many people don't pay attention to their health until something goes wrong," said Dr. Steve M. Friedlander, president of the Nevada Ophthalmological Society. "By providing tips for a healthy aging eye during Save Your Sight Month, we are hoping to encourage seniors to be more proactive in the care of their eyes and vision."

EyeCare America's tips for healthy aging eyes:

n Have your eyes examined annually. As one grows older, there is an increasing risk for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important for protecting vision and, when possible, preventing permanent vision loss.

n Review and address your family history of eye disease. If you have a family member with an eye disease, such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes or age-related macular degeneration, you are at greater risk of developing these diseases. So next time you are at a family gathering remember to ask your family if anyone has an eye disease and tell them if you do. By doing so you are taking proactive measures to save you and your family's sight.

n Protect your eyes from the sun. Spending long hours in the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to cataracts, macular degeneration, and growths on the eye, including cancer. Remember to wear 99 percent and above UV-absorbent sunglasses and a brimmed hat whenever you are in the sun for long periods of time.

n Keep your eyes well lubricated. Tear production normally decreases as we age. When your eye stops producing enough tears for healthy eyes this is called dry eye. You can take steps to prevent your tears from evaporating by using a humidifier, wearing wrap-around glasses and avoiding overly warm, dry rooms, hair dryers, wind and smoke.

n See if you qualify for a free eye exam. To see if you, a friend or relative, 65 and older, is eligible to receive a referral for an eye exam and care, call (800) 222-3937. The Seniors EyeCare Program help line operates 24 hours a day, every day, year-round.

The Nevada Ophthalmological Society encourages people to call the EyeCare America Seniors EyeCare Program. This program offers eye exams and up to one year of medical care and/or surgical care at no out-of-pocket cost for seniors who are without an ophthalmologist. EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology operates one of the largest programs of its kind in American medicine. In Nevada, EyeCare America and its 24 volunteer ophthalmologists have served more than 5,138 people.

EyeCare America's Seniors EyeCare Program is designed for people who are US citizens or legal residents, age 65 and older, have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years and don't belong to an HMO or the VA.

Volunteer physicians have agreed to accept Medicare or other insurance as payment in full, resulting in no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Individuals without insurance of any kind are seen at no charge.

To supplement its referral program, EyeCare America's Web site at eyecareamerica.org is designed to assist online users in learning more about vision-limiting diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. The Web site contains information about eye diseases reviewed by certified ophthalmologists with links to current treatments and even an interactive tour of the eye's anatomy.

The Seniors EyeCare Program is designed for seniors without an ophthalmologist and is co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. and Alcon.