To have healthy eyes and good vision, you need a healthy body. In fact, an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) can often tell a lot about your overall health just by examining your eyes. The effects of certain diseases- like diabetes- can be seen through a complete eye exam. There are important steps you can take to keep your body strong which will also go a long way toward preserving your vision. Here you will discover what it takes to keep your eyes and body healthy.
- Know Your Eye Care Team
- Increase Your Eye Q
- Eating Right
- Exercise Helps Your Eyes
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Know Your Eye Care Team
When it's time to "get your eyes checked," make sure you are seeing the right eye care professional for your needs. Ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians each play an important role in eye health. Here's a quick look at these eye care providers:
Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist — Eye M.D. — is a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have completed college and at least eight years of additional medical training. They diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery and prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. Many ophthalmologists are also involved in scientific research on the causes and cures for eye diseases and vision disorders.
Optometrist
Optometrists provide vision care ranging from testing your sight to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. An optometrist receives a doctor of optometry (OD) degree after completing college and four years of optometry school.
Optician
Opticians are technicians trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight. They fill prescriptions supplied by ophthalmologists or optometrists.
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Increase Your Eye Q
Vision is a complex sense. The eyes are the entry to a multilayered visual system that processes millions of bits of information every second. In fact, seventy percent of the body’s sense receptors are found in the eyes. Let’s take a closer look.
Key Concepts:
Activity:
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Eating Right
We have all heard that eating right will make you healthy. Let’s look at some things you should eat and how they help your eyes.
Key Concepts:
Experiments:
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Exercise Helps Your Eyes
Exercise is good for your whole body. Let’s look at what exercise does to help your eyes.
Key Concepts:
Experiments: