eyecare

Eye care is about keeping your eyes healthy through good daily habits, regular checkups, and treatment when needed. Your eyes are an important part of your health. You rely on them every day to see and understand the world around you. Some eye diseases can lead to vision loss without early warning signs, so it's important to catch them as soon as possible. Get your eyes checked as often as your health care provider recommends, or if you notice new vision problems. Just like caring for the rest of your body, it's important to keep your eyes healthy.

There are many things you can do to protect your eyes and see your best:

• Give your eyes a rest. Spending long hours on a computer or other digital screens can make you blink less, causing dryness and tired eyes. To reduce eyestrain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.
• Wear sunglasses.Sun exposure can damage your eyes and raise your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Protect your eyes by using sunglasses that block out 99 to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
• Wear protective eyewear. To prevent eye injuries, you need eye protection when playing certain sports, working in jobs such as factory work and construction, and doing repairs or projects in your home.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can transfer dirt and bacteria that may cause irritation or lead to an infection.
• Use good lighting. Brighten your space to reduce strain and help you see comfortably.
• If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections. Wash your hands before you put in or take out your contact lenses. Also follow the instructions on how to properly clean them and replace them when needed.

What you eat and how you take care of your body can have a big impact on your eyes and vision:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Your diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, or collard greens. Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut can also help your eyes.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or having obesity increases your risk of developing diabetes. Having diabetes puts you at higher risk of getting diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
• Get regular exercise. Exercise may help to prevent or control diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These diseases can lead to some eye or vision problems. Regular exercise helps lower your risk.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts and can damage the optic nerve.
• Know your family medical history. Some eye diseases are inherited (passed down through families), so it is important to find out whether anyone in your family has had them. This can help you determine if you are at higher risk of developing an eye disease.
• Know your other risk factors. As you get older, you are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions. It is important to know your risk factors because you may be able to lower your risk by changing some behaviors.

Everyone needs their eyesight tested to check for vision and eye problems. Children usually have vision screening, also called an eye test, in school or at their provider's office during a checkup. This is a brief test that mainly checks how well you can see things up close and far away. Adults may also get vision screenings during their checkups. But many adults need more than a vision screening. They need a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Getting comprehensive dilated eye exams is especially important because some eye diseases may not have warning signs. The exams are the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages, when they are easier to treat.

The eye exam includes several tests:

• Test your side (peripheral) vision with a visual field test. Losing peripheral vision may be a sign of glaucoma.
• Check how well you see at various distances with a visual acuity test, where you read an eye chart about 20 feet away.
• Follow an object with your eyes during an eye muscle function test to check for problems with the muscles that control your eyes.
• Shine a light into your eyes with a pupil response test to see how your pupils react to light.
• Measure the pressure inside your eyes with tonometry. This test helps to detect glaucoma.
• Dilate (widen) your pupils with special eye drops allows more light to enter the eye. Your eye care provider then uses a special magnifying lens to clearly see important tissues at the back of your eye, including the retina, macula, and optic nerve.

If you have a refractive error and are going to need glasses or contacts, then you will also have a refraction test. When you have this test, you look through a device that has lenses of different strengths to help your eye care professional figure out which lenses will give you the clearest vision.

How often you need eye exams depends on your age, race, risk factors, and overall health. For example, Black/African American adults are at higher risk for glaucoma and may need to start exams earlier. If you have diabetes, you should have an exam every year. Check with your provider about when you need these exams.

See an eye care specialist right away if you have symptoms like sudden loss of vision, double vision, blurred vision with eye pain, flashes of light, black spots or halos around lights. These symptoms may represent a serious medical or eye condition.

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye. This cloudiness blocks light from reaching the back of the eye, making it harder to see clearly. A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it doesn't spread from one eye to the other.

Cataracts usually develop slowly. As they get worse, your vision can become blurry or dim. Brighter lighting or new eyeglasses may help at first, but if cataracts begin to interfere with your daily activities, you may need cataract surgery.

Without treatment, cataracts can cause severe or even permanent loss of vision.

Most cataracts develop as part of the normal aging process. This happens when the protein in the lens of your eye clumps together. Over time, these protein clumps grow larger and thicker, making it harder to see. The lens may turn yellow or brown, which can affect how you see colors.

Cataracts can also develop after an eye injury or surgery for another eye condition, like glaucoma.

Cataracts are very common in older adults. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Your risk for developing cataracts increases as you get older. You may also be at an increased risk if you:

• Have certain health problems, like diabetes
• Have a family history of cataracts
• Have had an eye injury or eye surgery
• Take steroid medicines, used to treat conditions like arthritis or allergies
• Smoke
• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• Have spent a lot of time in the sun

You may not notice cataracts at first because they usually develop slowly. That's why regular eye exams are important. Common symptoms may include:

• Blurry or cloudy vision
• Colors that seem faded
• Glare from headlights, lamps, or sunlight that seems too bright
• Halos around lights
• Not being able to see well at night
• Double vision (this may go away as the cataract gets bigger)
• Frequent changes in your glasses or contact lens prescription
• Trouble reading or doing other everyday activities

Talk with your provider about these symptoms since they could also be signs of other eye problems.

A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to check for cataracts. Your provider will do several tests to check your vision and eye health. This includes a dilated eye exam, where your pupils are widened with special eye drops. This allows more light to enter your eye so your provider can clearly see tissues at the back.

Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. At first, you may be able to improve your vision with new glasses and brighter lighting. But if cataracts are getting in the way of everyday activities like reading, driving, or watching TV, surgery is an option. During surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL).

If you're worried that you're at risk for cataracts, talk to your provider to see if there's anything you can do to lower your risk. A few ways to protect your eyes include:

• Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to block ultraviolet (UV) sunlight and help delay cataracts.
• Protect your eyes from injury when using power tools or playing certain sports.
• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from foods you eat. The cells of your body need glucose for energy. A hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into your cells.

With type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in your blood and causes high blood glucose levels.

Over time, high blood glucose may damage the blood vessels and lenses in your eyes. This can lead to serious diabetic eye problems which can harm your vision and sometimes cause blindness. Some common diabetic eye problems include:

• Diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in American adults. It affects blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye). The blood vessels may swell and leak fluid into your eye. If it's not treated, it can cause serious problems such as vision loss and retinal detachment, where the retina is pulled away from its normal position at the back of your eye.
• Diabetic macular edema (DME), which happens when blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the macula (the part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision). This usually develops in people who already have other signs of diabetic retinopathy.
• Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve (the bundle of nerves that connects the eye to the brain). Glaucoma from diabetes happens when the blood vessels in the front of your eye are damaged, and new blood vessels grow near the iris (the colored part of your eye). The blood vessels block the space where fluid drains from your eye. This causes fluid to build up and pressure to increase inside your eye.
• Cataract, which is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. It happens when the clear lens in the front of your eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts are common as people age. But people with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts younger and faster than people without diabetes. Researchers think that high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lenses of your eyes.

Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease. But your risk of developing it is higher if you have diabetes and:

• Have had diabetes for a long time
• Don't have good control over your high blood glucose or high blood pressure
• Are pregnant
• Have high blood cholesterol
• Smoke tobacco

In the early stages, diabetic eye problems usually don't have any symptoms. That's why regular dilated eye exams are so important, even if you think your eyes are healthy.

You should also watch for sudden changes in your vision that could be signs of an emergency. Call your eye care professional right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Many new spots or dark wavy strings floating in your vision (floaters)
• Flashes of light
• A dark shadow over part of your vision, like a curtain
• Vision loss
• Eye pain or redness

Talk with your eye care professional if you have these symptoms, even if they come and go:

• Spots or dark wavy strings floating in your vision
• Blurry or wavy vision
• Vision that changes a lot
• Trouble seeing colors

Eye care professionals do dilated eye exams to diagnose eye problems. A dilated eye exam uses eye drops to open your pupils wide so your eye care professional can look for signs of eye problems and treat them before they harm your vision. They will also test your vision and measure the pressure in your eyes.

Treatment for diabetic eye problems depends on the problem and how serious it is. Some of the treatments include:

• Lasers to stop blood vessels from leaking
• Injections (shots) in the eye to stop new, leaky blood vessels from growing
• Surgery to remove blood and scar tissue or replace a cloudy lens
• Eye drops to lower fluid pressure in the eye

But these treatments aren't cures. Eye problems can come back. That's why your best defense against serious vision loss is to take control of your diabetes and get regular eye exams. It's also important to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in a healthy range.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Even if your eyes feel healthy, you could have a problem and not know it. That's why regular eye exams are so important. Refractive errors are the most common type of vision problem that makes it hard to see clearly. But some eye conditions or diseases don't have any symptoms and can lead to a permanent loss of vision.

Some common eye diseases and conditions include:

• Cataracts, which happens when the clear lens in the front of your eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts are common as you get older and can lead to vision loss.
• Optic nerve disorders, which includes glaucoma. Glaucoma usually happens when the fluid pressure inside your eyes slowly rises.
• Retinal disorders, which are problems with the nerve layer at the back of your eye.
• Macular degeneration, which is a disease that destroys your sharp, central vision.
• Diabetic eye problems, which can cause vision loss and blindness.
• Conjunctivitis, which is an infection also known as pink eye. It can cause pink or red itchy eyes. Some types of pink eye can spread very easily.

Some eye conditions and diseases do not always have symptoms. Early detection through a comprehensive dilated eye exam could help your eye care provider detect diseases in the early stages. Proper treatment could help slow or prevent vision loss.

Get regular eye exams and call your eye care professional right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• A sudden change in vision
• Everything looks dim
• Flashes of light
• Eye pain
• Double vision
• Fluid coming from your eye
• Inflammation (swelling)

Getting older increases your risk of some eye diseases. Other things that may put you at a higher risk of some eye diseases can include if you:

• Are overweight or obese
• Have a family history of eye disease
• Are African American, Hispanic, or Native American
• Have certain health conditions such as Diabetic eye problems, or high blood pressure

Treatment may depend on the eye condition or disease but can include:

• A new prescription for eyeglasses or contacts
• Use of bright lights or magnifying lenses for reading and other activities
• Medicines
• Prescription eye drops or ointments
• Laser treatment
• Surgery

Depending on your eye condition or disease, treatment may slow vision loss but may not restore vision. Talk to your provider about what treatment is best for you.

Your best defense is to have regular checkups. Be sure to tell your provider if any eye diseases run in your family.

You can also help take care of your vision by making lifestyle changes to lower your risk of health conditions that can cause vision problems. This could include by:

• Protecting your eyes from the sun
• Wearing protective eyewear while using tools or playing certain sports
• Getting regular physical activity
• Staying at a healthy weight
• Quitting smoking (or not starting)
• Eating a healthy diet

NIH: National Eye Institute

Falls can be dangerous at any age. Babies and young children can get hurt falling off furniture or down the stairs. Older children may fall off playground equipment. For older adults, falls can be especially serious. They are at higher risk of falling. They are also more likely to fracture (break) a bone when they fall, especially if they have osteoporosis. A broken bone, especially when it is in a hip, may even lead to disability and a loss of independence for older adults.

Some common causes of falls include:

• Balance problems
• Some medicines, which can make you feel dizzy, confused, or slow
• Vision problems
• Alcohol, which can affect your balance and reflexes
• Muscle weakness, especially in your legs, which can make it harder for you to get up from a chair or keep your balance when walking on an uneven surface.
• Certain illnesses, such as low blood pressure, diabetes, and neuropathy
• Slow reflexes, which make it hard to keep your balance or move out of the way of a hazard
• Tripping or slipping due to loss of footing or traction

At any age, people can make changes to lower their risk of falling. It important to take care of your health, including getting regular eye exams. Regular exercise may lower your risk of falls by strengthening your muscles, improving your balance, and keeping your bones strong. And you can look for ways to make your house safer. For example, you can get rid of tripping hazards and make sure that you have rails on the stairs and in the bath. To reduce the chances of breaking a bone if you do fall, make sure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the optic nerve of one, or both, of your eyes. This can result in vision loss. There are different types of glaucoma, but the most common type is open-angle glaucoma. Other less common types include angle-closure glaucoma, and congenital glaucoma.

You may not have any symptoms of glaucoma. Regular eye exams by an eye care provider can check for glaucoma and other eye problems to help protect your vision. Treatments that lower eye pressure help slow the disease. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness.

Medical experts aren't sure what causes glaucoma, but the most common types usually happen when the fluid pressure inside your eye slowly rises, damaging the optic nerve. Other types of glaucoma may be caused by medical conditions, or a baby may be born with it.

Not everyone with high eye pressure develops glaucoma. Some people may even get glaucoma with normal eye pressure. The amount of pressure your optic nerve can handle is different for each person. Getting regular dilated eye exams helps your provider figure out what level of eye pressure is normal for you.

Often there are no symptoms of glaucoma at first. Or symptoms may start so slowly that you may not notice them. Without treatment, you slowly lose your peripheral (side) vision. It may seem like you're looking through a tunnel. Over time, your straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains.

If you have sudden symptoms of intense eye pain, blurry vision, red eyes, or an upset stomach (nausea), you need to go to your eye care provider or an emergency room right away. These could be symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma. This less common type of glaucoma causes fluid to build up quickly in your eye.

A comprehensive eye exam can tell if you have glaucoma. This would include:

• A dilated eye exam. This involves getting eye drops that dilate (widen) your pupils. This allows more light to enter your eye. Your eye care provider examines your eyes using a special magnifying lens. This provides a clear view of important tissues at the back of your eye to check for glaucoma or other eye problems. For a few hours after the exam your vision may be blurry and sensitive to light, so you will need someone to take you home.
• Visual field testing. This check of your peripheral (side) vision allows your eye care provider to find out how well you can see objects off to the side of your vision without moving your eyes.
• Tonometry. This measures the pressure inside your eye.

If you're at higher risk for glaucoma, you should get comprehensive eye exams every one to two years. You're at higher risk if you:

• Are Black or African American and over age 40
• Are over age 60, especially if you're Hispanic or Latino
• Have a family history of glaucoma

You're also at higher risk if you have high blood pressure or diabetes and should get a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Talk with your provider about your risk and how often you should get your eyes checked.

Early treatment can help protect your eyes against vision loss. There is no cure, but glaucoma can usually be controlled. Without treatment it can eventually cause blindness. Treatments can include:

• Prescription eye drops are the most common treatment to lower the pressure in your eye and prevent damage to your optic nerve.
• Other treatments may include oral medicines, laser treatment, and/or surgery.

A combination of these treatments may be used to lower eye pressure and help drain the fluid out of your eye.

There is no way to prevent glaucoma. Eye exams can help find glaucoma or other eye problems before they can affect your vision. If you have glaucoma, be sure to continue with treatment to prevent your vision from getting worse.

NIH: National Eye Institute

People in the U.S. are living longer, and the number of older adults in the population is growing. As we age, our minds and bodies change. Having a healthy lifestyle can help you deal with those changes. It may also prevent some health problems and help you to make the most of your life.

A healthy lifestyle for older adults includes:

• Healthy eating. As you age, your dietary needs may change. You may need fewer calories, but you still need to get enough nutrients. A healthy eating plan includes
  • Eating foods that give you lots of nutrients without a lot of extra calories. This includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy, nuts, and seeds.
  • Avoiding empty calories, such as foods like chips, candy, baked goods, soda, and alcohol
  • Eating foods that are low in cholesterol and fat
  • Drinking enough liquids, so you don't get dehydrated
• Regular physical activity. Being physically active may help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid chronic health problems. If you have not been active, you can start slowly and work up to your goal. How much exercise you need depends on your age and health. Check with your health care provider on what is right for you.
• Staying at a healthy weight. Being either overweight or underweight can lead to health problems. Ask your health care professional what a healthy weight for you may be. Healthy eating and exercise can help you get to that weight.
• Keeping your mind active. Lots of activities can keep your mind active and improve your memory, including learning new skills, reading, and playing games.
• Making your mental health a priority. Work on improving your mental health, for example by practicing mediation, relaxation techniques, or gratitude. Know the warning signs of a problem and ask for help if you are struggling.
• Participating in activities that you enjoy. People who are involved in hobbies and social and leisure activities may be at lower risk for some health problems. Doing things that you enjoy may help you feel happier and improve your thinking abilities.
• Playing an active role in your health care. Make sure that you get regular checkups and the health screenings that you need. You should know which medicines you are taking, why you need them, and how to take them properly.
• Not smoking. If you are a smoker, quitting is one of the most important things that you can do for your health. It can lower your risk of several different types of cancer, certain lung diseases, and heart disease.
• Taking steps to prevent falls. Older adults have a higher risk of falling. They are also more likely to fracture (break) a bone when they fall. Getting regular eye checkups, getting regular physical activity, and making your house safer can lower your risk of falling.

Following these tips can help you to stay healthy as you age. Even if you have never done them before, it's never too late to start taking care of your health. If you have questions about these lifestyle changes or need help figuring out how to make them, ask your health care provider.

Healthy living means taking care of your body and mind by making choices that support your overall wellbeing. Many things affect your health. Some you can't control, like your genetic makeup or your age. But there are many daily habits you can change to help you feel your best.

Creating new healthy habits takes time, but small, steady changes are easier to maintain and can become part of your everyday routine.

Healthy living can help you feel better, boost your energy, and lower your risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

You don't have to change everything at once. Start with a few steps to build a foundation for a healthier lifestyle. These can include:

• Get the screening tests recommended for you, including those specific to women's health and men's health
• Stay up to date on vaccines to protect yourself from disease
• Maintain a healthy weight that's right for you
• Eat a variety of healthy foods, and limit calories, added sugar, and saturated fat
• Be physically active, even small amounts of exercise can be helpful
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in a healthy range
• Don't smoke, or take steps to quit if you do
• Protect your skin from too much sun
• Limit alcohol, or choose not to drink at all
• Get enough sleep each night to help your body and mind recharge
• Manage stress and work on improving your mental health, such as by practicing meditation, relaxation techniques, or gratitude
• Protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Visit your health care provider regularly for checkups
• See your dentist and eye care specialist for routine care
• Stay connected with friends, family, or community groups, and do activities you enjoy

Healthy living is a lifelong journey. Over time, small steps can add up to big health benefits.

The cornea and lens of your eye bend (refract) light rays to focus them on the retina. Refractive errors happen when the shape of your eye prevents light from focusing correctly on the retina. This causes blurry vision. Changes in the eye's shape affect how light rays bend and focus, leading to vision problems.

Refractive errors can happen when:

• The eyeball is too long or too short.
• The cornea changes shape.
• The lens becomes less flexible as you age.

Each type of refractive error is different, but they all make it hard to see clearly.

Four common types of refractive errors include:

• Nearsightedness (myopia), blurred vision when looking at faraway objects.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia), blurred vision when looking at close-up objects.
• Astigmatism, blurred or distorted vision at all distances, which can make night vision harder.
• Presbyopia, difficulty seeing things up close because the lens becomes less flexible with age. It affects adults in middle age and older and often begins around age 45.

Anyone can have refractive errors. It's the most common type of vision problem. You may be more likely to have one if other family members wear glasses or contact lenses.

Most types of refractive errors start in childhood or are present at birth. Presbyopia is different. Nearly everyone develops it as they age, typically starting around age 45.

Sometimes you may not notice vision changes right away, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

The most common symptom is blurred vision. Other symptoms may include:

• Double vision
• Haziness
• Glare or halos around bright lights
• A need to squint to see clearly
• Headaches
• Eye strain or tired eyes
• Difficulty focusing when reading or using a computer

If you already wear glasses or contact lenses and notice these symptoms, you may need a new prescription. Tell your eye care specialist if your vision changes or if you have problems with your glasses or contact lenses

An eye care specialist can diagnose refractive errors during a comprehensive eye exam. You'll be tested to see how well you can see at different distances, both with and without corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses). Your provider may also use special eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupils to check for other eye conditions.

Different eye care specialists may be involved in your care. Here are some of the most common:

• Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who treat eye diseases, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and perform eye surgery.
• Optometrists perform eye exams, diagnose vision problems, and prescribe glasses or contact lenses.
• Opticians fit or adjust glasses or contact lenses based on a prescription from your eye care specialist.

Refractive errors are usually easy to correct with:

• Glasses
• Contact lenses
• Laser eye surgery, in some cases

Your eye care specialist can help choose the best treatment for your vision and lifestyle.

NIH: National Eye Institute

Retinal disorders are conditions that affect the retina, the thin light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. The retina senses light and sends signals to your brain so you can see.

Retinal disorders can cause blurred or distorted vision. Some can lead to vision loss or blindness.

The causes of retinal disorders vary. Aging is a common factor, but other things can raise your risk, such as if you:

• Smoke
• Have obesity
• Have health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
• Have had an eye injury or trauma
• Have a family history of retinal disorders

Some common retinal disorders include:

• Macular degeneration. Occurs when the macula (the center of the retina that helps you see fine details) breaks down. There are two types: wet and dry macular degeneration.
• Diabetic retinopathy. Occurs when diabetes damages small blood vessels in the retina, causing them to swell or leak.
• Retinal detachment. Occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye. This is a medical emergency.
• Retinal tears. A hole or break in the retina caused when the gel-like substance inside your eye (the vitreous) pulls away.
• Retinoblastoma. A rare cancer of the retina that most often affects young children.
• Macular pucker. Scar tissue that forms on the macula and distorts vision.
• Macular hole. A small opening in the macula, often related to aging or injury. It can blur or distort central vision.
• Eye floaters. Small specks, cobwebs, or threads that drift across your vision. These are more common with aging.
• Retina pigmentosa. A group of inherited disorders (passed down through families) that slowly damage the retina and cause loss of night and side (peripheral) vision.

Symptoms can vary, but most retinal disorders affect your vision. Common symptoms include:

• Blurred or distorted vision
• Loss of central or side (peripheral) vision
• Flashes of light
• Seeing floating specks or cobwebs
• Trouble seeing at night
• Sudden vision loss (in severe cases)

Seek medical care right away if you notice flashes of light, sudden vision changes, or a sudden increase in eye floaters. These can be signs of a serious retinal problem.

Eye care providers check for retinal disorders with a dilated eye exam. Eye drops are used to widen your pupils so your provider can look at the retina for signs of damage.

They may also do other tests, such as:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) to take detailed pictures of the inside of your eye.
• Fluorescein angiography to check the blood vessels in your retina.
• Visual field tests to measure your side (peripheral) vision.

Some retinal disorders can be treated to slow or stop vision loss, and sometimes to restore vision. Treatment depends on the cause and severity. It may include:

• Laser therapy
• Medicine or eye injections
• Surgery
• Lifestyle management to control health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure

Not all retinal disorders can be prevented. Some are related to aging or genetics. But you can protect your eyes by:

• Wearing safety goggles or sunglasses
• Getting regular eye exams
• Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
  • Quitting smoking (or not starting)
  • Managing diabetes and blood pressure

NIH: National Eye Institute