It's important to take care of your eyes. Poor vision makes it harder to read, drive, and handle money. The good news: Many eye problems and diseases can be treated if caught early.

To make sure you keep seeing clearly, get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. It's the best way to find out if you need glasses or contacts, or are in the early stages of a serious but treatable eye disease.

You should have a dilated eye exam regularly to check for common eye problems. If you haven't had an exam for some time, schedule one this month, during Healthy Vision Month. CDC's Vision Health Initiative and the National Eye Institute are encouraging Americans to make vision a health priority, because impaired vision affects our community.

Problems Can Begin at Any Age

Of the 3.3 million Americans with impaired vision, 2.9 million are 65 years or older. However, 5%–10% of preschool-age children also do not see as well as they should, often due to problems such as nearsightedness that can be corrected with glasses. Another cause of vision problems in young children is amblyopia, which affects 2%-4% of preschoolers. Amblyopia, also called lazy eye, is poor vision in one eye that is otherwise physically normal. Treatment for amblyopia includes finding the condition early, and using a patch or eye drops to give the stronger eye a rest and to strengthen the weaker eye.

Just 1 out of every 7 preschoolers receives an eye exam, and fewer than 1 out of every 4 receives some type of vision screening. Because finding amblyopia early is important for treating it effectively, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Forcerecommends vision screening for amblyopia and its risk factors for all children ages 3 to 5 years.

For older Americans, vision loss usually comes from diseases tied to aging, including macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. A painless dilated eye exam is the only way to find these diseases in the early stages, and it will also find vision problems that can be corrected, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. An estimated 11 million Americans age 12 years and older could see better with glasses, including reading glasses; contact lenses; or eye surgery.

Taking care of your eyes also may benefit your overall health. People with vision problems are more likely than those with good vision to have diabetes, poor hearing, heart problems, high blood pressure, lower back pain and stroke, as well as have increased risk for falls, injury and depression. Among people age 65 and older, 54.2% of those who are blind and 41.7% of those with impaired vision say their overall health is fair or poor. Just 21.5% of older Americans without vision problems reported fair to poor health.

What to Expect From a Dilated Eye Exam

  • Your eye care professional will place drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye—the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room.
  • This process offers a good look at the back of the eyes, so they can be examined for any signs of damage or disease.
  • Your close-up vision may remain blurry for a few hours after the exam.

    • Nine Ways to Help Protect Your Vision

    The best option is to keep your eyes as healthy as possible throughout your lifetime.

  • Get a dilated eye exam.
  • Know your family's eye health history.
  • Eat right to protect your sight—in particular, eat plenty of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, and fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home.
  • Quit smoking or never start.
  • Wear sunglasses that block 99%-100% of UVA and UVB radiation.
  • Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly to avoid the risk of infection.
  • Practice workplace eye safety.

    • Visit an Eye Care Professional if…

    You have:

  • Decreased vision
  • Eye pain
  • Drainage or redness of the eye
  • Double vision
  • Diabetes

    • Or see:

  • Flashes of light
  • Floaters (tiny specks that appear to float before your eyes)
  • Circles, or halos, around light sources

    • Diabetes and Eye Damage

    People with diabetes often develop eye problems, so if you have diabetes, it is especially important to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam every year.  The exam will check for a disease called diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults. Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and causes gradual damage to small blood vessels in the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that is needed for good vision. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss.

    It's important for both your vision and overall health to control blood sugar levels and to maintain your blood pressure and cholesterol at recommended levels.

    Minorities Face a Higher Risk

  • Vision problems affect people in racial and ethnic minority groups in greater numbers than for the broader population. Glaucoma, for example, is three times as common among African Americans as among whites.

    • Ways to Adapt to Life With Vision Loss

    If you have a vision problem, here are some things you can do to see better.

    • Read large print books.
    • Use the magnifier tool on the computer.
    • Use a magnifying glass for working on detailed tasks.
    • Install recessed or track lighting in your home and office, which allows you to point light where you want it.

    The American Foundation for the Blind and Lighthouse International also offer resources for living with vision loss.

    CDC's Vision Health Initiative team works with partners to implement a public health framework that promotes vision health and quality of life for all populations, through all life stages, by preventing and controlling eye diseases, eye injury, and vision loss resulting in disability. The initiative is located in CDC'sDivision of Diabetes Translation.