HEALTH

Why you need to take a look at your eye health

18 July, 2023 . 0

Our eyes not only provide us with information about the world around us, they also offer vital clues to our wellbeing. Here’s why you shouldn’t blink on eye health.

Did you know the only cells that survive from the time you’re born until death are in your eyes?

Or that the most common eye colour is brown?

And that every single person in the world with blue eyes shares the same original ancestor?

For the majority of Aussies (90 per cent) sight is the most important sense.

Imagine if you couldn’t see the faces of the people you love. Or read a book. Or know where you’re putting your feet as you walk down the street.

Despite this, many of us don’t give our eyes the love they deserve, says RANZCO, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists Eye Foundation and the organisation behind the annual eye health campaign JulEYE.

Here’s why we need to take a look at our eye health.

Eye conditions that can impact sight

ABS statistics show more than 13 million Aussies have one or more have long-term eye conditions.

Common eye diseases that cause vision loss include cataracts; macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease that leads to gradual loss of central vision; and diabetic retinopathy, damage to the retina from diabetes.

Glaucoma, another common eye problem, is vision loss caused by damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness if untreated.

JulEYE ambassador and INXS guitarist Kirk Pengilly understands this all too well after almost losing his sight to severe glaucoma in his 20s.

“The thing about eye disease is you can have it and not know until it’s too late,” Kirk says.

What your eyes can reveal about wellbeing

Eyes can also act as an early warning system to serious health problems according to community pharmacist Gerald Quigley.

“In Australia we’re seeing an epidemic of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes,” Gerald Quigley, who co-hosts The House of Wellness radio, says.

“Blurred vision, a sign of cataracts or macular degeneration, can also be a sign of diabetes.”

Dim or double vision can also be an early warning sign of a stroke or multiple sclerosis.

And high cholesterol, high blood pressure and jaundice can all show up in changes to the eyes.

Why you need regular eye check ups

“Losing your eye sight has an enormous impact on your quality of life, affecting your physical, emotional and social wellbeing, which means that as well as not smoking, regular eye-check-ups are vital,” Gerald says.

According to RANZCO research, two out of every five Australians aren’t having regular eye checks, despite 75 per cent of vision loss being preventable or treatable if detected early.

“Once vision is lost it can’t be restored, so those Australians who aren’t having their eyes tested at least once every two years need to understand the implications of their actions, and book an appointment,” RANZCO Fellow Professor Frank Martin says.

Gerald recommends making friends with your local optometrist.

They’re found in pretty much every shopping centre, including the new Optometrist Warehouse in Malvern, where a free 3D scan is included with every eye test.

Nutrition to support healthy eyes

Oily fish, nuts, citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables all contain nutrients that may benefit eye health.

“The B group vitamins, zinc, vitamin C and folic acid can all fill gaps in a poor diet when it comes to eye health,” Gerald says.

“Bilberry is the herb of choice, rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins that may have a positive impact on the retina.

“Fighter pilots in previous World Wars reported having improved night-time vision after eating Bilberry jam and bilberry extract is found in many eye formulations.

“You need to do everything you can to protect your vision, including shielding your eyes from the sun’s UV rays.”

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Written by Liz McGrath.