Eye Health 101 with Dr. Firestone

With some 66 percent of today’s US adults suffering from some degree of vision loss, eye health care has become an important consideration. A number of diseases and disorders that can affect the eyes, including ARMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, can be mitigated if detected early. To know what can be done to prevent or slow down these diseases, we interviewed Dr. Kirsten Firestone. Here are some of the highlights of the interview.

Q: What can people do to prevent eye diseases like glaucoma or ARMD (age-related macular degeneration)?
A: “Get your eyes checked regularly! Many people assume they have healthy eyes just because they see well and don’t need glasses. However, you can have good vision while your eye health deteriorates. Waiting until the age of 40 to get a comprehensive eye exam is not a smart idea. The most common eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal disease, and dry eyes are all asymptomatic illnesses. These diseases have no cure, but that can be quickly detected during a general eye exam.”

As stated by the Mayo Clinic, “ The damage caused by glaucoma can’t be reversed, but treatment and regular checkups help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages.”

Q: How can parents prevent their kids from needing glasses?
A: “Eyes change the most during childhood and early development. Studies have shown that spending an hour outside (away from the screens) can help prevent myopia (nearsightedness). All children should have an eye exam by age 5, or even sooner if you notice any squinting, rubbing of eyes, or eye turn.“

Q: How often should people schedule their comprehensive eye exam?
A: “If you have never worn glasses before, you should have your eyes examined every 2-3 years at a minimum. If you wear glasses or contacts, you should have your eyes checked every 1-2 years. If there is any family history of eye diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration, you should schedule your eye exam yearly. After age 40, everyone, regardless if they have worn glasses or not, should have an annual eye exam.”

Eye Care is also Self Care

Q: Aside from checkups, what are other habits people can pick up to maintain their eye health?
A: In this day and age, it’s hard to limit your screen time. Try out this eye health tip called ‘The 20/20/20 Rule.’ Dr. Firestone explained that “For every 20 minutes of screen time, take 20 seconds to look 20 feet away. This technique helps relax your eyes muscles from all the over-focusing.”

Q: Can eating healthy improve eye health?
A: Absolutely! Your diet can also have an impact on your eye health. Dr. Firestone recommends eating fish, avocado, and nuts. “These are great sources of omega, which is good for the prevention of cataracts and ARMD.” Although there are supplements of omega and antioxidant vitamins, Dr. Firestone endorses: “For those that do not have ARMD yet, I suggest getting antioxidants from regularly eating leafy greens, vegetables, and legumes.”

Q: Can people regularly check their eye health from home?
A: “There are many different online eye tests, but Dr. Firestone advised against them. “These usually only check vision but have no way of assessing the health of the eyes.” Instead, Dr. Firestone suggested, “Once a week, you should close one eye at a time and see if anything looks blurry or distorted at a distance or up close. If you see any floaters or flashes of light, you should come in immediately, as this is potentially an emergency.”

Eye Health at Edward Beiner

Q: What’s it like to work at Edward Beiner?
A: “Edward Beiner has a solid loyal following, and I think that it’s because of the incredible staff who has been with the company for years. I like working at Edward Beiner because of the diverse international patients I encounter each day. My favorite part of my job is building patient-doctor relationships and being able to see my patients regularly over the years.”

Edward Beiner is more than just a business that sells eyewear. It’s a business that cares about its customers. That’s why it decided to open its Eye Wellness Center at CocoWalk and why it’s hired great doctors. To schedule your next eye exam at Edward Beiner, click here.