The earth is the only planet we call home. Our beautiful planet gives us life in the form of water, food, and oxygen. In recent years there has been more social awareness about pollution and the importance of taking care of the planet. Sometimes the repercussions can seem far off like they won’t affect us
directly. Did you know that the pollution we have already created could influence your vision? Let’s take care of the planet and your vision!

The Facts

It has been proven by the British Journal of Ophthalmology that air pollution is associated with a higher risk of vision loss. This same study also found that people who live in areas with poor air quality were 8% more likely to suffer from age-related macular degeneration or AMD.

As we have discussed in previous blogs, AMD is a degenerative eye disease that causes severe visual impairment and even irreversible blindness!

While we can’t help the damage that has already been done, there are things you can do to prevent further damage. Since these issues usually don’t show up until people are over the age of 50, you can start wherever you are to try to protect your eyes.

Two main plans of protections are:

Wear glasses: Wearing sunglasses help to protect your eyes from the sun, but it also helps to protect your eyes from any air pollution that is floating around where you live. If you wear regular glasses every day those are going to help as well!

Contribute to the cleanup of our air: It may seem daunting, but there are a few things individuals can do to try to lower the amount of air pollution where we live.

Some of these include:

  • Riding a bike or walking, instead of driving a car
  • If you must drive, carpool, or use public transportation
  • Get a car that has a better fuel efficiency
  • Turning off lights when you leave a room
  • Using energy-efficient light bulbs in your home

Doing your research, buying fewer things that are manufactured using fossil fuels These small steps may not feel like much, but if enough of us participate it could significantly change the air pollution levels and in turn, keep our eyes healthy longer!

For a more local picture of the pollution in our area, you can go to the American Lung Association’s website and get a recent report, you can input your zip code here: https://www.stateoftheair.org/

Living in a coastal region helps with the pollution because we have more wind coming off the ocean than inland cities and states may have. We are lucky, but we are not without any pollution.

As always, remember to schedule your yearly eye exam with Tricoutny Eye Associates. Our team here will help to alert you of any early warning signs of vision issues as well as outfit you with the perfect glasses or sunglasses. It is our mission to take care of the planet and your vision.