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Take a Closer Look
at Your Eye Health
Diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, and
age-related macular degeneration can rob you of your sight.
But you may not notice changes in your vision right away.
Thankfully, there are ways to detect these diseases early, when they’re
most treatable.
Eye Exam May See Problems Before You Do
“A dilated eye exam — in which the pupil is widened with drops to
allow a closer look at the eye — can help your eye doctor find disease
at an early stage,” says Walter Kahn, M.D., FACS, ophthalmologist with
Riverview Medical Center. If you’re younger than age 60, don’t have
any special risk factors, and aren’t having vision problems, see the eye
doctor for a thorough exam about every two to four years.
If you are age 60 or older, or are at risk for any of these causes of
blindness, you may need more frequent exams:
• Glaucoma can strike anyone, but African-Americans older than
40, anyone older than 60, and people with a family history of the
disease are most at risk. They should get the exam at least once
every two years.
• Diabetic eye disease can affect people with diabetes at any age.
Go for an exam once every year.
• Age-related macular degeneration is more common in people who
are older than 60. However, it can occur at any age. Women are at
higher risk than men, as are those who are Caucasian, are obese,
smoke, or have a family history of the disease. Anyone older than
60 should have the exam every two years.
Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Eyes
“In general, the healthier you are, the greater your odds of avoiding
eye problems,” says Dr. Kahn. These strategies can help:
• Eat foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E. Examples include oranges and
strawberries (vitamin C), almonds (vitamin E), and carrots (vitamin A).
• Exercise regularly.
• Keep your blood pressure under control.
• Avoid smoking.
• Wear protective eyewear when working with strong chemicals such
as oven cleaner, operating motorized equipment, or playing sports
such as racquetball or basketball.
• Protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light by wearing sunglasses
and a wide-brimmed hat when in the sun. Choose sunglasses that
block at least 99 percent of UV rays.
See More Clearly
Walter J. Kahn, M.D., FACS
Board certified in Ophthalmology
Red Bank • 732-741-0858
The Latest in LASIK
Technology
The Vision Correction Center
at Riverview Medical Center is
the only hospital in Monmouth
and Ocean counties to offer the
latest 100 percent blade-free
LASIK technology available,
the IntraLase iFS (femtosecond)
laser. The iFS laser is a highly
sophisticated way to prepare the
eye for LASIK, without a blade
ever touching it.
“The LASIK procedure has never
been safer or more precise,
thanks to the blade-free IntraLase
method,” says Walter Kahn,
M.D., FACS, ophthalmologist
with Riverview Medical Center.
“I’m proud to offer our patients
this advantage close to home at
Riverview.”
Considering LASIK? Learn more about the latest techniques offered at Riverview Medical Center.
Call the Vision Correction Center at 732-530-2295 or visit RiverviewMedicalCenter.com.
Healthy Highlights
Meridian HealthViews • November/December 2012
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