April has been designated “Protect Ohio’s Aging Eyes Month” by the Ohio Department of Aging, according to an article on Cincinnati.com.
Over the course of the month, there will be an strong focus on educating Ohioans about age-related eye conditions, such as macular degeneration, and how these conditions can adversely impact sufferers.
According to the report, the Ohio Department of Aging has joined forced with the state’s Aging Eye Public Private Partnership to inform Ohioans who have reached the four-decade mark that they need to take eye health more seriously. This entails having frank discussions with their eye care providers about what lifestyle alternations they can make to lessen the chances of coming down with age-related eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy.
The report cited the Department of Aging as saying that approximately 13.7% of the state’s residents aged 65 and up are affected by age-related eye ailments. What’s more, this rate is on pace to double by 2030.
Bonnie Kantor-Burman, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, said in the report that more must be done to equip Ohioans with the information they need to enjoy optimum vision health. She added not only that it is erroneous to assume that vision loss is something that necessarily comes with old age, but also that 50% of all cases of vision loss can be prevented. People who want to be proactive in protecting their vision should adopt an active lifestyle, pursue healthy eating habits and go for periodic eye exams.
According to the report, the following are some resources people can use to keep their vision at peak performance:
- Healthy U, which is offered by the Ohio Departments of Health and Aging, enables people to avoid or manage chronic conditions that could lead to eye disease.
- Diabetic Eye Disease Educator Program gives health professionals the tools they need to ascertain the symptoms and side effects of age-related vision ailments.
- Prevent Blindness Ohio provides programs on adult vision screening.
- Aging Eye Partnership, which can be found online a ohio.preventblindness.org, provides resources people can use to learn about vision loss and its causes.
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