May is Vision Health Month, an initiative undertaken by CNIB, which helps the visually impaired in Canada. The goal of Vision Health Month is to educate people on the importance of your vision health to prevent eye disease and eliminate avoidable sight loss in Canada. Hakim Optical places our full support behind these initiatives and wants to ensure that you’re doing everything you can to keep your eyes healthy.
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
The best way to keep your eyes healthy is to schedule regular comprehensive eye exams with a licensed optometrist.
Children – Babies should have their first eye exam at 6 months to ensure their vision is healthy and then continue with eye exams every year after. Many provincial health care programs cover eye exams for children, so be sure to take advantage of those benefits and schedule your children’s eye exams at your nearest Eye Exam Centre.
Adults – Annual eye exams should also be performed for all adults to ensure your vision hasn’t changed and to detect any potential problems as early as possible.
Decrease Your Risk of Eye Disease
Live a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing an eye disease.
Eat Healthy – Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and Vitamins C & E are important for your eyes and vision health. Salmon, leafy greens, citrus, fruits, eggs and nuts are foods that you can incorporate into your diet for healthy eyes.
Quit Smoking – Smoking is one of the leading causes of Cataracts as well as doubling your risk of other eye disease and increasing your risk of blindness after the age of 65. Quitting smoking will also increase your overall health and your eye health.
Protect Your Vision
UV damage and work-related eye injuries are two ways people often jeopardize their vision.
Wear Sunglasses – Make sure that when you choose sunglasses they protect your eyes from 99%-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Both can significantly harm your eyes over time.
Wear Safety Glasses – Some people use their everyday glasses or sunglasses as protective eyewear when working around the house or participating in sports. Unfortunately, this type of eyewear is not designed to protect your eyes from falling debris or contact sports. Invest in safety glasses to ensure that you keep your eyes and vision protected!
Hakim Optical has been serving Canadians for 50 years and will continue to provide our customers with top quality eyewear and vision service for 50 more!
Don’t wait, schedule your annual eye exam today to ensure your eyes are healthy for Vision Health Month.