THE HEALTH EXAM YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

If you’re like most Americans surveyed in a recent Harris Poll, you probably thought you would notice a change in your vision if you had an eye disease. The fact is some of the leading causes of blindness—such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy—can begin without any symptoms. That’s why Eye Associates of South Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology urge all healthy adults to get an eye exam at age 40, even if their vision seems fine. Early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to happen at this age.

“Even if you think you have 20/20 vision, set up a time to get your eyes checked. It may save your sight,” says Dr. JT Kavanagh, ophthalmologist with Eye Associates of South Texas.

Need more motivation to have your eyes examined? Here are four good reasons to see an ophthalmologist:

  1. Your brain adapts to vision loss, making some eye diseases go unnoticed until it is too late. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored. Ophthalmologists can spot eye disease before vision is compromised and protect your sight.
  2. Seeing an ophthalmologist can improve not just your eye health, but your overall health. Because the blood vessels and nerves in your eye are reflective of the rest of your body, ophthalmologists are sometimes the first to diagnose diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or vitamin deficiencies.
  3. Your eye health is dependent on different factors, including family history, ethnicity, age, and overall health. An ophthalmologist can help evaluate your personal risk factors and recommend the best steps for disease prevention.
  4. Eye disease is also a looming problem for the U.S. healthcare system. As our population ages, the number of people afflicted with vision loss is expected to double by 2050.

Prioritize your vision! To schedule an eye exam, call us at (830) 379-3937. We work with many insurance carriers and have multiple locations to serve you.

RELATED POSTS

Our Blog

Dive into a curated collection of our insightful and engaging blog posts.

3 min read

PRIORITIZING YOUR EYE HEALTH AS YOU AGE

As we age, our risk of developing eye diseases increases significantly. In fact, one in six Americans aged 65 and older has a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are more prevalent in older adults and can lead to significant vision loss if not properly managed.

1 min read

THE HEALTH EXAM YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

Some of the leading causes of blindness—such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy—can begin without any symptoms. That’s why Eye Associates of South Texas and the American Academy of Ophthalmology urge all healthy adults to get an eye exam at age 40, even if their vision seems fine. Early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to happen at this age.

WOMEN’S EYE HEALTH & SAFETY MONTH

Prevent Blindness has designated April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. This important initiative aims to increase awareness about eye diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect women.  Why are women at higher risk?  For some women, fluctuations in hormones due to pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause can bring on such changes.