WHILE the last year has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Victorians are being reminded to remember to look after their vision and eye health.
The Vision Initiative, an eye health promotion program which aims to prevent avoidable blindness in Victoria, is presenting a free webinar about eye health for Victorian seniors on Thursday, February 18 from 1:00 – 2:00pm.
Hear from Shepparton optometrist, Mark DePaola, about common eye conditions, preventing vision loss, and how to access eye care services.
The key message from The Vision Initiative is that most vision loss is avoidable or treatable, if it’s detected early. So, don’t wait for symptoms, and book regular eye tests.
Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and refractive error are the main causes of blindness and vision loss in people aged over 40 in Victoria. Many eye conditions develop slowly, and you may not notice a change in your vision until conditions are quite advanced.
Vision Initiative program manager, Jackie Barry, said, “optometrists and ophthalmologists are taking COVID safe precautions, so do not delay making an appointment with your eye care professional.”
Key tips for looking after eye health:
• Make sure you have regular eye tests, especially if you are over 40
• Wear a hat and sunglasses when outside
• Wear eye protection when playing sports like squash, or performing hazardous activities such as mowing the lawn or using power tools
• Do not smoke
• Maintain a healthy diet with regular exercise
• Manage your diabetes (bloods glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels)
Register for the Thursday, February 18 webinar at: www.visioninitiative.org.au/register
