A public service announcement for photographers: Get your eyes checked every few years.
We take our eyes for granted but they need to be properly maintained.
An eye checkup in the old days involved reading an eye chart on a wall in the doctor’s office. At my eye exam today, the doctor did at least seven tests. She tested my vision at various distances, examined eye movement and eye pressure, looked for signs of heart disease and glaucoma, and even checked the inside of my eyelids. The doctor also did a couple other tests that made me see double and even see vertically.
Thankfully my eyes are healthy and my vision (i.e. my eyeglass prescription) hasn’t changed in 25 years.
The previous Ontario government, in order to save money, de-listed eye examinations. This means that eye exams are no longer covered under Ontario health care. A shortsighted decision by the provincial government.
Healthy eyes, better vision
When you get an eye exam, be sure the doctor photographs the inside of your eyeballs. (My doctor uses a Nikon!) You’ll get to experience a flash fired into your eyes from a very close distance.
Photographers spend a lot of time staring at computer screens. This can dry out your eyes which will affect your vision. Over the long term, this can cause (semi?)-permanent damage to your eyes and also the chance of becoming nearsighted.
Eye drops offer only temporary relief from dryness. Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help prevent macular degeneration and dryness. Omega-3 Fatty Acids seem to reduce the chances of glaucoma and high eye pressure. As a bonus, it also seems to reduce the risk of heart disease.
My eye doctor also gave me a “prescription” to eat more fish and more dark green and red vegetables.
