Regular Eye Exams Could Help Prevent Impairment

By Richard Shank Eye Exams

A recent Australian survey revealed that 66% of its population mistakenly believed noticeable symptoms would indicate early eye disease. As a result, urgency has been placed on regular eye examinations to prevent vision loss in later years.

Researchers in Australia estimate that over 500,000 people over the age of 40 are vision impaired or blind in their country. Seventy-five percent of these people are suffering from what could have been preventable or treatable conditions if they would have been detected earlier.

Many individuals wait to schedule an eye exam whenever they experience obvious symptoms, such as eye discomfort. However, by the time such a symptom makes becomes obvious to the individual, it is often too late to prevent vision loss over the long term.

Vision impairment has a severe impact on individuals’ well-being and their ability to function in their daily lives. Older people who are vision impaired or blind are less likely to work than their peers, are more likely to be depressed, have falls or accidents, and tend to enter into nursing homes at earlier ages.

Source: Queensland University of Technology Press Release (October 2008).

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