THE EYES HAVE IT: National Healthy Vision Month offers a look at good health

May 22—National Healthy Vision Month offers data proving carrots are not the only way to keep eyes healthy.

Dr. Nate Lighthizer, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry associate dean, said healthy vision is important for daily activities, and it all begins with routine eye exams.

"Our eyes are critical. We have five critical senses, but the eyes are just as critical as any of them. Having healthy eyesight is incredibly important, and that's from the front of the eye to the back of the eye," Lighthizer said. "It maybe glasses, it maybe contact lenses, it maybe getting your routine dilated eye exam, but having healthy vision is so very important for all of our activities of daily living, from reading to driving to being on our phones to being on he computers."

Lighthizer said routine eye exams depend on a patient's age or eye conditions, but the average is every six months to two years. For example, a teen or a young adult in the 30s can see an doctor every one to two years, while those in their 70s and older who have eye conditions, like glaucoma, might have to see a doctor, on average, from one to four times a years.

Annual exams are a must for everyone. Patients will have their eyes checked, prescriptions changed, glasses or contact lenses updated, and more. Lighthizer said some things looked for during an exam include dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Prevention is always key when it comes to health. Lighthizer said people should wear eye protection when out and about, such as on the lake or golfing, as a preventative measure.

"When you have UV light, just like we wear sunscreen to protect or skin, eye protection, such as sunglasses, is important to protect our eyes," Lighthizer said. "If you have extensive UV exposure, that could increase your rates for cataracts, for macular degeneration, for dry eye, so have good eye protection, UV protection, and just a healthy, balanced diet in life."

For those working with something that could produce potential projectiles, Lighthizer said safety eyewear is an important component. Depending on the activity, Lighthizer said, there are American National Standards Institute standards that recommend the correct type of eyewear.

The old saying that eating carrots helps maintain eyesight is mainly a myth, but Lighthizer said a healthy diet and lifestyle can assure the proper amount of nutrients and minerals, thus boosting eyesight.

"Colorful fruits and vegetables are healthy for the back of the eye, or healthy for eye in general, especially after you have a few birthdays under your belt and are more in the macular degeneration age range," Lighthizer said.

People used to clean their eyelids and eyelashes with baby shampoo, Lighthizer said, but that can be harmful. They should instead get the recommended cleansers from a doctor's office. Before starting any type of supplemental or nutriceutical, Lighthizer recommends talking to an eye doctor to make sure the medication is tailored to individual eyes.

To boost general health, Tahlequah Drug Co. Pharmacist Shanon Gower recommends vitamins high in beta-carotene, a pigment found in carrots.

"Just take good care of yourself,"Gower said. "Make sure your blood sugar is under control. Do wellness checks every year or six months. That might alert you to an underlying issue that you're not symptomatic of yet. If you're diabetic, control your blood sugar."

Gower advises watching out for dry eyes, which is often the cause for blurry vision. Blurred vision can be prevented by using lubricating eye drops and not sleeping with a fan on. Antihistamines for seasonal allergies can also dry out the eyes.

Certain over-the-counter vitamins with minerals and supplements are high in Vitamin C and E, Gower said, and that might help vision.

Deana Franke, owner of Oasis Health Food Store, said some minerals, such as Zeaxanthin and Lycopene, can help give eyes support against oxidative stress from digital devices, aging, and the environment.

"You just want to always keep yourself as healthy as you can. Prevention in all areas is the most effective way to stay well," Franke said.