KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT EYE HEALTH
Aug 27, 2015
With back-to-school already upon us, many parents are thinking about getting their kid’s eyes examined. This is an important step to take to ensure your child is ready to take on the challenges of another school year. Here are some interesting facts about eye health – for ALL ages, courtesy of the Canadian Association of Optometrists web page:
- Did you know that spending time outside is not only fun, it’s good for our eyes. As long as we protect our eyes from sun exposure time outside has been shown to improve our health and our vision. This is especially true for children. Studies have shown that when children spend more time outdoors it can reduce their risk of developing nearsightedness. Learn more. https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(12)00363-6/abstract
- Did you know that one in seven Canadians will develop a serious eye disease in their lifetime. Many serious eye diseases have no symptoms and can only be detected through a comprehensive eye exam; even someone who has 20/20 vision may be at risk.
- The number of people with vision loss represents more than the amount of people with breast cancer, prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s combined. Blindness and vision loss also cost our economy more than 15 billion annually and will probably increase over time.
- The four most common eye diseases causing blindness and partial sight in Canada are cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
- Eighty per cent of what children learn in their first 12 years comes through visual processing of information. Undiagnosed vision problems can cause children to struggle in school.
- One in four school-age children has a vision problem.
- The majority of the most common causes of serious vision loss occur later in life, so it’s especially important for older adults to get regular eye exams that could help save their sight. Symptoms of the most common eye diseases can be difficult to detect without an exam, and many can be treated if caught early.
- In 2006, one in seven Canadians was 65 and over. By 2032, it will be one in four. After age 40, the number of cases of blindness or partial sight doubles. At 75, it triples.
- Did you know that most accidents DON’T happen at work? Learn more about eye safety here. https://visionatwork.ca/safety
(Courtesy of: The Canadian Association of Optometrists, http://opto.ca/vision-health-month-know-the-facts