Have you thought about your eye health lately? 

Prevention is better than cure

Good eye health is important for maintaining your independence and quality of life. In Australia, around 500,000 people are affected by blindness or low vision.

With every decade after the age of 40 the level of vision impairment triples, and the number of people with severe vision loss is expected to double by the year 2020.

Low vision is linked to an increase in the risk of falls, hip fractures and depression, and prevents healthy and independent ageing.

The good news is that 75 per cent of vision loss is avoidable or treatable. Regular eye tests can detect emerging problems and provide the best chance for treatment. If you are over 40 or in a high risk group (have diabetes or a family history of eye disease, or are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent), regular eye tests are essential. If you experience any vision changes you should get tested immediately.

Until she had a routine eye test, Margaret had no idea she had a condition that could have claimed her sight. The registered nurse, then 46 years old, thought her eye health and vision were perfect. "I wasn't concerned about having my eyes tested regularly because I thought I was fine - until I was diagnosed with glaucoma," she said. "If I didn't have my eyes tested when I was 46, I might not have been able to see today. It's that simple."

Save your sight - get tested. Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist,
or speak to your doctor.

Don't let vision loss be a barrier

In Australia, it is estimated that only 20 per cent of people with vision impairment access low vision and rehabilitation services.

If you have low vision, there are a range of services available to maximise your independence and quality of life. There are organisations that can assess your eligibility for entitlements, and for vision aids and adaptive technologies which can enable you to maintain your independence and quality of life. They can also link you to other services.

Sybil was blinded by untreated diabetic retinopathy and subsequently, age-related macular degeneration. Now in her late seventies, Sybil has maintained her independence. She borrows audio books to indulge her passion for reading, and uses adaptive technology to access the internet, send emails and do her banking on-line. Two years ago, Fred, a guide dog, came into her life. Fred can't give Sybil her eyes back but he has helped her get her life back. She is now even more independent and mobile. "It may not have been the life I imagined, but with Fred by my side, it's still a marvellous life. We try to master a different challenge each week, no matter how minor, and having Fred has restored my confidence and ensured that I don't feel that I am stuck at home alone anymore."

There are also a range of vision loss support organisations that can provide support for specific conditions. For further information about eye health and vision care visit - www.visioninitiative.org.au

Please acknowledge photograph courtesy of Vision 2020 Australia.