As we age, our risk of many diseases and conditions naturally increases. And our eyes are no exception. 

By the time we reach the age of sixty-five, nearly one in three Americans will have developed an eye disease that can impair vision. Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy are the top four leading causes of blindness or low vision reduced vision.

The changes in visual acuity caused by these and other diseases are often invisible at first, meaning proper eye care and regular monitoring is key to early detection and treatment. The sooner a disease is caught, the better you will be able to combat the condition's progression.

In this article, we will take a deeper look at one of those conditions: glaucoma.

The rising cost of healthcare is an issue for everyone, no matter if you are insured through work or pay out of pocket for needed healthcare. Many individuals and families can find themselves in a tight spot when it comes to paying for medical care, and some of the first areas that take a backseat can be dental and eye care.

However, it is vital to protect your eyes and preserve your vision. Neglecting eye health can lead to degenerating vision and other issues.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects many Americans. Characterized by the body's inability to use or store sugar properly, it is a disease that impacts a person's entire body. Over time diabetes can cause damage throughout the body to blood vessels and capillaries. And our eyes are especially sensitive to such damage.

When blood vessels in the eye are damaged, it can cause changes in the retina, cause fluid imbalances, and lead to swelling. Swelling of the eye caused as a side effect of diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy. 

Like all types of insurance, vision or eye care insurance is a way to reduce the burden or costs related to eye care and health in exchange for a monthly premium. It is a safeguard against unexpected illness or injury. For many individuals with insurance through employers, they may find that they already have access to vision insurance through that more comprehensive policy.

However, there are many people who do not have vision insurance through work or a more extensive general health insurance plan. If you fall into that category, you may be wondering if you really need vision insurance or if a discount plan, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or paying out of pocket is better. 

Here is a look at the pros and cons you can expect from each type of plan and a general recommendation concerning insurance needs.

Our vision changes naturally throughout our lives. As we age, use, injury, and other health conditions can put us at increasing risk of developing eye disease and eventually vision loss. But this risk varies drastically from person-to-person and can leave many patients wondering what their actual risk is. 

The eyes are the window to the soul and our window to view the world around us. It's through them we experience the beauty of the mountains, the smile of a loved one, and our favorite movie. Good vision is an essential component of living an engaging and fruitful life for many of us. But eye care is one aspect of health that can fall to the wayside until it is too late. 

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) holds World Sight Day every October. IAPB is an alliance of over 150 organizations in over 100 countries with the goal of working together to ensure everyone everywhere has access to universal eye care. They hope to end avoidable sight loss worldwide with appropriate access to care.

This year join us, the IAPB, and people around the globe in celebration and protection of our eyes.

In a world with constant bugging about extended warranties or invasive sales techniques, it can feel pushy when you hear the recommendation for having a backup pair of glasses. But for those with prescription lenses, you may depend on those glasses more than you realize to help travel, complete your work, participate in sports, and take care of your family.

Eye injuries can happen at any time, which isn’t the most helpful when trying to help and teach your child to be safe while still letting them enjoy the fun, independent play. Most eye injuries across all ages come from accidents that occur during sports or other physical activities. For children, this is especially true with that activity, including all forms of physical play.

The good thing is most sports already have a culture of wearing eye protection. Watch any professional athlete participating, and you’ll see they are protecting their eyes. Which is good for them, and you can point to this practice when your child asks why they need to wear protective glasses.

The vast majority of eye injuries across all ages come from accidents that occur during sports or other physical activities. For children, this is especially true with that activity, including all forms of physical play. But younger children are at increased risk of injuries from toys, home supplies, furniture, and playground equipment as well.

Eyesight problems generally don’t form overnight and can be caught early before becoming a more significant problem, if you pay attention to some of the tell-tale signs. Screenings at a pediatrician's office may catch nearsighted children, but  often many farsighted ones may be missed in just a simple screening.