A new year is upon us. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 adults in Canada will make a New Year’s resolution this year. Of these, 73% will break their resolutions. Many of us focus on better health as a New Year’s resolution. In fact, up to 55% of all resolutions are health related. From hitting the gym more to watching what’s on our plate, coming out of the holiday season we clearly have health and wellness on our minds.
What you may not realise is that your eyes can be an indicator of underlying health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and tumors to name just a few. When was the last time you had an eye exam? If it’s been over two years, it’s time for a check-up. An eye test is one health resolution that’s easy to stick to in 2020!
3 Reasons to Book an Eye Exam in 2020
Just like your annual dental check ups, an eye test is an important part of your overall health checks. Here are 3 reasons to book an eye exam in 2020.
1. Many of us are overdue
We all lead busy lives. Between work, social commitments, family and general day to day admin, an eye exams often drops to the bottom of the priority list. Alarmingly, a study commissioned by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) found that up to 59% of Canadians experience some symptoms of a potential eye disease, with only 54% seeking advice from a healthcare professional.
Promisingly, the Canadian Association of Optometrists notes that “over 75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable.” Don’t delay any longer, make 2020 the year that you book in your eye exam.
2. An eye exam can help detect other health conditions
We’ve all heard that our eyes are the windows to our soul. But did you know that an eye exam can actually help to detect underlying health conditions? Some health problems that an eye test can detect include:
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Inflammatory conditions
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Tumors
3. Your eyesight is constantly changing
Just as our body’s change with age, so do our eyes. Our eyes will operate differently in our 60s than they did in our 30s. Most changes are entirely normal and can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or in some cases, surgery.
Ignoring changes to your eyesight can often make the problem worse. Squinting to read or holding items close to your face may provide a temporary solution, but it’s certainly not a permanent one.
Make 2020 the year that you commit to better eye health. The team at Yonge & College Optometry provides full comprehensive eye exams, vision testing, glaucoma testing, binocular vision testing, and complete dilated retinal evaluations. To book an appointment, please call us on (647) 748-3937 or click here to request an appointment online.
