Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
Your eyesight is a precious gift you don’t want to risk losing. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about ways to save or improve your sight. One of the best ways to protect it is with regular vision exams. The National Institutes of Health estimated last year that 10 million Americans had undiagnosed vision problems that could be corrected.
There are also diseases that affect the eyes, such as glaucoma.
Dr. Dwight Cavanagh, an ophthalmologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says glaucoma can’t be undone, and because it’s painless and has no symptoms until it’s too late. A regular eye exam is the only way doctors can discover it in time to take action. People under the age of 50 should have an eye exam every two to three years. Older adults, people with vision problems and those with risk factors such as diabetes need an annual eye exam.
###
April 2007
Health Watch is heard Monday through Friday nationwide on ABC Satellite Radio. Call your local radio station and ask if they carry the program.
