by Heather McMillion
Look around—it’s a beautiful world out there! We see the faces of our loved ones and the natural beauty of our environment, like green tundra, white clouds and blue skies and red berries.
You want to keep your eyes healthy to enjoy these sights. One way to support good vision is to schedule an annual eye exam to help detect early signs of disease or damage to your eyes. Getting a simple check-up and working with your provider to make a ‘healthy eye plan’ can greatly lower risks of more severe and future damage so you can continue to enjoy healthy vision, even as you age.
This is especially important if you have prediabetes or diabetes, which increase the risk of having eye problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people 18-64 years old. It is important for all people to increase the frequency of eye exams as they age. However, people who have diabetes need to be committed to frequent exams no matter what their age.
If you have diabetes, make yearly eye exams a priority. Combined with proper diabetes management, these exams can be very useful in helping ensure your vision remains strong for a lifetime. In fact, it is estimated that an annual routine eye exam could prevent 95% of vision loss caused by diabetes.
August is National Eye Exam Month. Here are some basic steps you can take to help support strong and healthy vision this month.
1. Take the exam. There is no reason to put off something this important. An eye exam usually takes about 20-30 minutes. See your provider and make sure everything is ok. Call the YKHC eye clinic at 907-543-6336 to schedule your appointment.
2. Encourage others to do the same. Urge your loved ones to make an appointment with their local eye provider.
3. Make sure you have the right prescription. Your eyes change over time. Adjusting your prescription may be necessary to reduce eyestrain, optimize performance, and make your vision as clear as can be.
4. Commit to making lifestyle changes to improve your eye health. Stopping smoking, lowering blood pressure, and managing blood sugar can all help keep your eyes healthy for many years to come. These changes can be hard, but you do not have to do them alone. To learn more about no cost programs available to help you along your journey, visit Freshstart.alaska.gov or speak with your provider today.
Be sure to celebrate your strong vision by looking at some of the lovely sights around us every day. Then enjoy a big, bright, beautiful bowl of blueberries topped with a healthy topping, such as the one below.
Whipped Milk Topping
Ingredients:
•½ cup instant nonfat dry milk
•½ cup cold water
•½ teaspoon vanilla extract
•2 tablespoons sugar
Preparation:
1. Chill large mixing bowl and whisk/beaters in refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes prior to mixing ingredients.
2. Mix the dry milk with the water.
3. Beat on high for about 5 minutes until soft peaks begin to form.
4. Add the vanilla extract and beat on high for another 7 minutes.
5. Add sugar and beat on high for another minute.
This article was presented by Heather McMillion, MS, RD, LD, CDCES and the YKHC Diabetes and Prevention Department.
