Have you ever heard of “tear film”? Every time you blink, a thin layer of tears called “tear film” spreads across your eyes. Tear film has three layers: an oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and an inner mucous layer. All three of these layers work together to help keep your eyes healthy.
More than half of US adults under age 45 wear eyeglasses (or contact lenses) to correct their vision. The prevalence increases to almost 70% for adults 45-54 and almost 80% for adults over 55. Eye injuries, which are largely preventable, and eye diseases also cause vision loss. The risk for eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, increases with age.
Having a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to detect eye diseases, and to detect common vision problems that can be corrected with glasses or contacts. To protect your eyes, it is also important to wear protective eye wear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Wear sunglasses when the sun is out. Healthy habits can protect your eyes and vision, such as eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and, for people with diabetes, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Share the flyers and posters in our Healthy Vision Toolkit (below) with your members to help promote healthy eye habits.
