Vision Loss Strategies

Caring for your eyes is a year-round commitment. A little prevention and TLC can go a long way between your annual exams. Here are a few daily eye health reminders to help you protect your eyes for years to come 👆

Photo description: A checklist for eye health reminders including (1) Get enough sleep. (2) Use protective eyewear. (3) Avoid excessive screen time. (4) Consult an eye doctor regularly. (5) Give yourself blinking breaks.

If you are suffering from low vision, and having difficulty seeing at certain times and certain circumstances, you may want to consider the lighting. Changing the lighting in your home or office can make a significant difference, and positively impact your functional vision.

Check out https://visionlossstrategies.com/webinars-content/ to watch our informative webinar on how lighting can help with vision, and a few key strategies to help you see better!

Photo description: Photo of someone changing their lightbulb.

Eye conditions and eye diseases become more prevalent as we age and they can cause low vision and affect the quality of life. Common age-related eye conditions include glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, to name a few.

Although we may be at higher risk of these conditions as we age, many can be prevented or even corrected. Aside from attending your regular comprehensive eye exams, it’s important to:

🥬 Eat a well-balanced diet, high in antioxidants.
🏃🏽‍♂️ Exercise and maintain a healthy weight.
💤 Get an adequate amount of sleep.
🚭 Quit smoking.
🩺 See your family physician regularly to check for diseases that could cause low vision, like diabetes.
🕶 Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays, and wear and a broad-brimmed hat when outdoors.

Whether or not you have an age-related eye condition, these are a few simple things you can do to maintain good eye health. For more tips to protect your vision, check out https://bit.ly/3awrrMN!

Photo description: A happy older man smiling joyfully carrying his little grandson on his shoulders at the beach.

Glare is a common problem for individuals with low vision, and often makes outdoor activities more difficult. To ease the discomfort caused by glare and light sensitivity, aim to have the sun behind you when you are outdoors, as this will help minimize the sun’s interference with your vision.

To learn more tips on reducing glare, check out https://visionlossstrategies.com/webinars-content/ to watch our webinar. It could be just what you need to function and feel better in certain circumstances!

Photo description: Photo of people walking across the street in a city with the bright light of sun causing a glare as it shines between the buildings. Below the image is text that reads, “Limit sun glare to help with vision”

September is National Guide Dog Month and a time to give thanks to all the dogs that provide support, protection, guidance, and companionship to the visually impaired. It is a time to raise awareness and appreciation of the working animal tasked with this vital job, and to remember the importance of guide dog etiquette to allow for the safety of the dog and its handler. Etiquette guidelines include:

🦮 Talking directly to the handler when saying hello, not the dog.
🦮 Asking for permission to pet or interact with the dog.
🦮 Giving the dog plenty of space.
🦮 Respecting the handlers privacy

Disregarding these guidelines can distract the dog, which can lead to a dangerous situation for both the dog and the handler.

Photo description: Guide dog helping handler walk downstairs outdoors.