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4 The Courier sun • health • APRIL 3, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com Five tips for a lifetime of healthy vision ▶health Vision plays an important role in daily life - every waking minute, the eyes are working hard to see the world around us. Are you taking important steps to ensure the health of your eyes for years to come? Forty percent of Americans worry more about losing their eyesight than their ability to walk or hear, according to the American Optometric Association’s annual American Eye-Q survey. AOA conducts Save Your Vision Month annually in March to help people preserve vision throughout their lifetime. “It’s easy to incorporate steps into your daily routine to ensure healthy eyes and vision,” says Dr. Mitchell T. Munson, president of the AOA. “Eating right, protecting against UV rays and visiting your local eye doctor on a yearly basis are just a few things that can help keep your eyes and vision strong.” Consider these five steps for a lifetime of eye health: 1. Schedule yearly comprehensive exams Eye care should begin early in life. The AOA urges parents to bring infants 6 to 12 months of age to their local optometrist for a thorough assessment; under the Affordable Care Act, vision coverage is part of the Pediatric Essential Health Benefit. Millions of children (up to age 19) now have access to yearly comprehensive eye exams and followup care and treatment, such as eyeglasses, through their local doctor of optometry. Comprehensive exams performed by an optometrist not only evaluate a patient’s vision, but can also detect certain serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. 2. Protect against UV rays Long-term exposure to the sun poses significant risk not just to your skin, but to your eyes as well. No matter what the season, it’s extremely important to wear sunglasses, choosing a pair that blocks more than 95 percent of UVA and more than 99 percent of UVB radiation. The AOA provides more information and tips for selection of sunglasses at www.aoa.org. 3. Give your eyes a break from digital device use Two-thirds of Americans spend up to seven hours a day using computers or other digital devices such as tablets and smart phones. This constant eye activity increases the risk for computer vision syndrome (CVS) and can cause problems such as dry eye, eyestrain, headaches, neck and/or backache, and fatigue. The AOA recommends that people practice the 20/20/20 rule (every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away). In addition, a poorly designed computer station can also contribute to eyestrain. Be sure to correct factors such as improper lighting or uncomfortable seating, viewing angles and reading or working distances to eliminate visual stress and discomfort. The AOA website provides a helpful diagram on how to set up your desktop computer/laptop. 4. Eat your greens As part of a healthful diet, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day - particularly the leafy green variety. Six nutrients - antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, essential fatty acids, vitamins C and E, and the mineral zinc - have been identified as helping to protect eyesight and promote eye health. Since the body doesn’t make these nutrients naturally, it’s important that they are incorporated into a daily diet and, in some cases, supplemented with vitamins. 5. Practice safe wear and care of contact lenses More than 40 million Americans use contact lenses to improve vision. While some adhere to the medical guidelines for wearing contacts, many are breaking the rules and putting their vision at risk. Contact lens wearers who don’t follow their optometrist’s recommendations for use and wear can experience symptoms such as blurred or fuzzy vision, red or irritated eyes, pain in and around the eyes or, a more serious condition in which the cornea becomes inflamed, also known as keratitis. For more information, visit www.contactlenssafety.org. To learn more about eye and vision health, or to find a nearby doctor of optometry, please visit www.aoa.org. To find out how AOA members donate their services to help Americans save their sight through its charitable programs, visit the Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation website. Courtesy BPT Ronald Fatoullah Named “Best Lawyer” in 2014 Ronald Fatoullah has been selected as one of New York’s “Best Lawyers®” in the fields of elder law, & trusts & estates for 2014. This inclusion marks the eighth consecutive year that attorney Fatoullah has been added to the list of the top attorneys in the New York area. Ronald Fatoullah & Associates has continued their tradition of excellence, by providing outstanding services for more than 30 years. Their commitment to the highest form of professional and ethical standards, has earned the firm its distinguished reputation as one of the foremost firms in the areas of elder law, estate planning, Medicaid eligibility, Medicaid applications, estate mediation, special needs planning, preparation of wills & trusts, probate, guardianships, planning for same sex couples and veteran’s planning and benefits. 1-877- ELDER LAW 1-877-ESTATES Queens • Long Island • Manhattan • Brooklyn ATTORNEY ADVERTISING THE ART OF ELDER LAW.


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