Mega Doctor News
Healthy Vision Month in May is a great time for Texans to focus on protecting their vision health and preventing eye disease.
To keep eyes healthy, schedule regular eye exams to check for common vision problems and eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
Routine eye exams can help diagnose issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, which can often be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or eye surgery. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 11 million Americans 12 years and older could see better if they used corrective lenses or had eye surgery.
Texans may be eligible for free vision screenings and financial assistance for urgent medical eye treatment with a referral from an ophthalmologist through the HHS Blindness Education, Screening and Treatment (BEST) program.
Prevent Blindness Texas, a contractor for the BEST program, also provides free vision screenings with broader eligibility requirements. To schedule a screening, email the BEST program or call 713-526-2559, Ext. 106.
In addition to routine eye exams, Texans can protect their vision by:
- Adding leafy greens and fish to their diet.
- Quitting smoking.
- Wearing sunglasses that block 99–100% of ultraviolet rays.
- Wearing safety glasses and goggles during certain activities like playing sports or doing home repairs.
- Washing your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out.
- Disinfecting and replacing your contact lenses regularly.
Visit the National Eye Institute Keep Your Eyes Healthy page and the CDC Vision Health Resources page for more information.
Healthy Vision for Children
Healthy vision is also essential for children. Download the Guide to Vision Health for Your Newborn, Infant and Toddler (PDF) to understand how a child’s vision develops and how to detect when there might be a problem.
The HHSC Blind Children’s Vocational Discovery and Development Program provides services to children from birth through age 22 who are blind or have a visual impairment.
Information source: Texas Health and Human Services
