The puns abound for comparing the calendar year “2020,” and the measurement used for good vision on a Snellen eye chart “20/20.”  But this coincidence is more than just material for cheesy optometrist humor –it is the chance to reflect on our most precious of senses.  Of all our senses, vision is undeniably the most important.  Vision provides us with information on movement, color, depth, and distance –and it does all of this instantaneously.  Vision connects us through the written word for ease of communication, entertainment, and education.  As we start this conveniently named calendar year, let’s take a moment to reflect on how we can protect our sense of sight.

Prevention is certainly the best medicine when it comes to eye care.  Most eye diseases are known to be at least somewhat preventable (macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and amblyopia) so taking action to avoid acquiring those diseases just makes sense.  At Vista Eye Care, our Mission is preventative eye care.  Patients of every age should have their eyes checked, even if they don’t have any symptoms.  This is important for children as early eye and vision issues can lead to long-term problems (such as amblyopia).  It is also important to appreciate that many eye diseases don’t produce recognizable symptoms until they are advanced which is why we encourage yearly eye exams.

What can you do to promote healthy eyes?  Below is a sample list of common patient concerns and what Vista Eye Care can do to help you:

• Low Macular Pigment Density (MPOD)? Raise it!  If your MPOD score is below 0.50, you are at risk for developing macular degeneration.  Using a lutein / zeaxanthin supplement such as EyePromise Restore can help raise your MPOD and protect your retinas.
• Haven’t had an eye exam in a while? Come in for a check-up!  We recommend annual comprehensive eye and vision examinations for our patients because the shortest path to a cure is prevention.
• Children haven’t had an eye exam? Bring them in!  We recommend children be seen for their first eye exam at 6-12 months of age, and yearly after they start kindergarten.
• Working at a computer all day? Protect your eyes!  Relaxing your focus and filtering out blue light can help you avoid eye fatigue and prevent retinal damage from short wavelength light.
• Dealing with eye dryness? Let us help!  Vista Eye Care’s Ocular Surface Disease Clinic has a variety of treatments for dryness that can make your eyes comfortable.

The year 2020 is the perfect year to do something for your eyes!  Take a moment to appreciate how fantastic our sense of vision is and take action to ensure a lifetime of healthy eyes and great vision.  Feel free to call us at (303) 450-2020 to schedule your annual eye and vision examination, or use the button below to schedule your appointment online: