Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Americans agree that eyesight has a huge impact on day-to-day living and is one
of the senses they fear losing most. Unfortunately, people often do not pay
attention to their eye health unless they notice a problem. Many common eye
diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness, such as diabetic eye disease,
glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration, often have no early warning signs
or symptoms. Having regular eye exams to make sure the eyes are healthy and
seeing their best is important for everyone. However, the risk of vision loss and
blindness is higher for some people based on race, ethnicity, and other
demographic and socioeconomic factors.
You might be at higher risk for eye disease if you have a family history of eye
disease; have diabetes; are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian,
or Alaska Native; or are older than 50. Some diseases affect certain populations
disproportionately.
• Glaucoma, which affects your side or peripheral vision first, is three times
more common in African Americans than in Whites. It is a leading cause of
blindness in African Americans.
• Diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness caused by uncontrolled
diabetes, occurs more often in Hispanics/Latinos than in Whites.
• American Indians and Alaska Natives are 35 percent more likely to have
diabetes than the average adult in the United States, putting them at increased
risk of diabetic eye disease.
• Older adults are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and
conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, or
cataract. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in Whites.
“If you are at higher risk of eye disease, having a comprehensive dilated eye exam
is the best thing you can do to protect your vision,” says Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.
D., director of the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. “A
comprehensive dilated eye exam is a painless procedure where your eye care
professional puts drops in the eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil so he or she can
get a good look at the back of the eye to check for signs of eye disease. With early
detection, treatment can slow or stop vision loss and reduce the risk of blindness.”
In addition to having regular eye exams, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and
wearing protective eyewear are just a few other things you can do to protect your
sight. For more information on eye exams, common eye diseases and conditions,
and finding financial assistance for eye care, visit http://www.nei.nih.
gov/healthyeyes. Remember, when you take good care of your eyes, you take
good care of yourself.
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