*This post was sponsored by Think About Your Eyes as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my review.
I can clearly still see my grandmother sitting at her kitchen table with her head in her hands crying. I was in my late teens and will never forget the sight of her in despair.
Why this moment sticks out in my mind isn’t just because I never actually saw my grandmother cry or that it tore my heart apart to see her so very upset, but was because what she was crying over was something that she was proactive about all of the years that I knew her to be my grandmother.
See, it was at this point in her life that she was told that she had macular degeneration.
But what exactly is macular degeneration?
According to Wikipedia, macular degeneration is a medical condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field. Early on there are often no symptoms. Over time, however, some people experience a gradual worsening of vision that may affect one or both eyes. While it does not result in complete blindness, loss of central vision can make it hard to recognize faces, drive, read, or perform other activities of daily life.
Is was a great fear to my grandmother from her younger years that she would go blind as her own mother (my great-grandmother) actually did.
My grandmother in her younger days with my grandfather
So, my grandmother took special care to get eye exams annually and would even tell me growing up that she did eye exercises that she was shown by her eye doctor to do at home.
In essence, this was her greatest fear coming true. But never did she let on exactly how scared she was for this to happen and was one of the most courageous person I knew having taken care of her blind mother for years, as well as her father too, who lived to be 103 years old.
My grandmother with me back during Christmas time when I was a kid
Although, once she was diagnosed with macular degeneration, she gradually accepted her fate, but in those early days she cried a lot even though she was told she wouldn’t ever be completely blind, she knew that she would slowly loss a good portion of her vision. It killed her to know that she wouldn’t most likely be able to see my mom (her daughter), myself and more as the years would go by clearly anymore.
Just ironic, that even though she took care of her eyes all her life that she ended up being afflicted with macular degeneration. Sadly, even though she was diagnosed in the early stages, her diagnosis came before they truly knew more about this eye disorder as if she would have been found with this nowadays there are indeed treatment to help keep the onset from coming on as quickly and even more.
My grandmother and I in 2006 at on my wedding day. By this point she already had macular degeneration for quite a few years and could barely see me on this special day.
Yet this was also a woman, who also felt responsible on some level genetically speaking for passing down her near-sighted vision to me (her only granddaughter) at a fairly young age. See I was diagnosed, after having trouble reading the school blackboard during my second grade year in elementary school, with being near-sighted. So it was years of annual eye exams, wearing glasses and contacts for me growing up. It was my grandmother that gifted me Lasik surgery to correct my near-sighted eye vision for my college graduation, so that I wouldn’t need to wear any corrective lenses anymore.
Still though never could, I be more thankful or appreciative of my grandmother doing this for me, but also for my grandmother’s advice on how important it is to take care of my own eyes over the years.
Christmas 2009–My older daughter and my grandmother (2 Months Before She Passed Away).
Even now almost 6 years after she passed on, knowing not only my genetic makeup from my own great-grandmother going blind to my grandmother having macular degeneration in her later years of her life, I still go annually for vision checkups, because this simply is something that still hits home for me.
Plus, because of this I know we should never take for granted the one part, which we take in the world – our eyes. Just like all other muscles, our eyes need regular care to maintain maximum performance.
With this in mind, here are five tips to help keep your eyes healthy:
1.Eat healthy.
The first line of protection is to make sure you eat healthy. See nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and even vitamins C and E might help ward off eye issues that may be age-related, such as macular degeneration. So eating these types of foods regularly can indeed help with maintaining good eye health.
2. Wear sunglasses.
When I got Lasik eye surgery, I remember being told to make sure to wear a descent pair of sunglasses with polarized lens if possible. This is simply because the right type of sunglasses will protect our eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, because too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration.
3. Also use protective safety eyewear.
If you play sports or working with hazardous materials, then you will want to make sure to wear safety glasses or protective goggles, because they protect and shield your eyes during these possible dangerous activities for eyes.
4. Try to keep screen time to a minimum.
Focusing your eyes on computer, mobile devices or even TV’s can cause eye strain, blurriness headaches, dry eyes and more. So, try to rest your eyes every 20 minutes by even looking away for at least 20 seconds. And every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minute break at the very least.
5. Visit the eye doctor regularly.
Last but not least, just as my grandmother advised, make sure to visit the eye doctor regularly. Because by getting an annual comprehensive eye exam, many eye problems, such as macular degeneration, can be detected at their earliest stages when they’re most treatable.
That is why I was so happy to find out that Think About Your Eyes website exists and is running a national public awareness campaign that promotes the benefits of eye health, urging people to get annual comprehensive eye exams. Think About Your Eyes also has an eye care professional locator to find an eye doctor near you and schedule an exam.
Think About Your Eyes even compiled a Gifographic, which shows some interesting vision eye care facts from surveying members of national fitness center chain Life Time Fitness, including that some gym-goers neglect their eye health despite being very conscious of their body health and fitness.
Which is just plain sad, because as my own grandmother once again taught me that just like all our other muscles, eyes need regular care to maintain maximum performance, as well.
Now, take a look at the Think About Your Eyes Gifographic to find out more of the surveyed results for yourself now:
Do you get your eyes checked regularly?
Meredith Spidel says
Important to remember! Thanks, Janine!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
My pleasure and happy to share some helpful #vision #health tips 🙂
Lauren Baker Cormier says
My husband is a stickler for the sunglasses thing! Squinting is bad for eyes.
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
I am too for sunglasses and also agree about squinting, too!
Meredith says
Taking care of our eyes is SO important–smart tips, Janine!
Janine says
Couldn’t agree more, Meredith and thank you once again!! 🙂
T.A. Woods says
I am definitely overdue for an eye exam.
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
I think we have all been there, but thankfully still try my best 😉
Kathy Radigan says
I just got my first pair of prescription sunglasses! Great tips!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Thanks Kathy and sure you think styling in your new sunglasses 🙂
Kathy Radigan says
This is so timely since I recently found out that my early onset macular degeneration (which I learned I had at 28) is getting a bit worse. I have my sunglasses, am taking my vitamins and doing my best with screen time. Thanks for the tips!
Janine says
Sounds like you are doing everything right to keep this condition at bay and happy to share a few more tips here to possibly help you even more now.
Seana Turner says
I often wonder what the long-term effects of screen use will be on children growing up using them all the time. Kids are using iPads and the like in school at a pretty young age now. Getting checked is important, and I need to schedule that!
Janine says
I know and have been wondering that a bit myself, because I remember hearing growing up that I shouldn’t sit too close to the TV and now kids are clearly sitting pretty close to mobile devices more often than not in many cases. Definite food for thought!
Carrie Groneman says
Wonderful article Janine. I took care of a dear older lady for 10 years who had gone blind in one eye from a bad tooth as a young girl and the other eye was blind due to macular degeneration. She was such an inspiration to me, in fact I share a bit of her story in my novel because of her tremendous positive attitude, even though blind. You have given us such pertinent information so we can take better care of the most precious things we have. Thanks for your time and effort for this post.
Janine says
Thank you so much, Carrie for sharing with me about the woman you took care of as she also does truly sounded like she was an inspiration and wonderful lady, too. Hugs!! 🙂
Joy Hedding says
I got my prescription sunglasses last summer and LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Yay and you can beat if I need prescription will totally be getting them, too 😉
Bill says
I never had a chance right out of the womb. I had glasses when I was five. The good news is my eyes have stabilized over the years, so they aren’t getting worse. The bad news is glasses are a pain in the butt. 🙂
Have a great week….great suggestions, by the way.
Janine says
Bill, I wish my eyes old have stabilized before I had Lasik, but each year they just got worse and worse. But still happy to share some helpful tips and have a great week once again, too!! 🙂
Alison Tedford says
Good call!
Confessions of A Mommyaholic says
Thanks Alison!! 😉
Allie says
I have not been to the eye doctor since I was 13 years old! I need to go. Especially since I now cannot read anything with out me readers. I’m sorry about your grandmother, this condition is heartbreaking and unfair. I know a few people who have it. Hugs!
Janine says
Thank you Allie and hugs right back at you, my sweet friend <3
Camille says
I am sorry your grandma lost her vision like that! I bet she was so happy she could stop the same thing from happening to you though. I’m glad we have Lasik, I may need it in the next few year here! I am just near-sighted and I see fine with glasses. But my vision is still slowly worsening and my lenses are getting pretty thick!!
Janine says
Camille, my lenses were so thick at the end before I got Lasik. That was almost 18 years ago and can’t even imagine how thick they’d be now. But still I know my grandmother was so happy she could do this for me and just proud to say that she was an amazing and special lady through and through. Thank you always <3
Tamara says
I am due for an eye exam, but my grandmother had macular degeneration too! So sad. She loved to read more than anything. When her vision went, she would listen to books on tape. Then her hearing went.. and we got her hearing aids. Ah, I could cry. She lived to age 100.
Janine says
Aw, our grandmothers even were similar, too. Mine lived to almost 91 and her hearing towards the end wasn’t great either, but sadly her vision was worse. And she loved to read, as well, which made it all the more heart wrenching to see her going through this.
lisacng @ expandng.com says
Limiting screen time so much more difficult today with our computers, smartphones, tablets, etc! Thanks for the reminder to do so!
Janine says
Happy to remind and totally couldn’t agree more on this if I tried, Lisa!!
Amanda || Growing Up Madison says
I actually get mine checked yearly and my kids do at their annual check up as well. My mother had diabetes and ended up with eye problems, bleeding behind her eyes and glaucoma. Right before she died she could barely see as well. I try and limit the screen time my kids have and we eat as healthy as we can but sometimes no matter how good we are genetics sometimes gives us a bad hand.
Janine says
Totally agree about genetics, too and so sorry to hear about your mother’s eyesight towards the end, too.
Leslie says
My vision has been horrible for as long as I can remember – inherited from two very near-sighted parents. As a result, annual exams are the norm for me, as are hundreds of dollars every year in contact lenses and glasses updates. I was unaware of the value of Omega-3 fatty acids in protecting eye health long-term, so I’ll need to be diligent in getting that into my diet from now on. Thanks for the valuable tips!
Janine says
So happy to share and glad to pass on about Omega-3 fatty acids with you, too!
Cynthia says
This post caught my attention: my mother in law has macular degeneration and I was born with sight only in one eye. You remind me that even though I try to take care of my eyes (glasses, vitamins, sunglasses, eating well, going to the eye doctor regularly)…I think about things like bilberry and other good-for-the-eyes supplements. So…thanks for this and the gentle reminder to look into that. 🙂
HUGS!
Janine says
Aw, so happy to remind. I knew about your eyes from the years we have been friends, but didn’t know about your mother-in-law and truly sorry to here she has macular degeneration, as well. Hugs right back at you 😉
Aunt Gloria says
Thanks for bringing up this very important subject. Eyesight can’t be taken for granted. And, as you point out, we need to protect our eyesight. Vision problems and blindness are in our family, so we were made aware of the importance of regular exams, sunglasses, etc. Ironically, my last job in social work was with the visually impaired! So vision has remained close in my private and professional life. I’m glad the Lasik worked for you. I see my eye doctor this week and I am very careful to take care of the precious gift of eyesight. Here’s looking at you! xxoo
Janine says
Aw, thanks Aunt Gloria and glad I could shed some light on this topic and right back at you!! Dozing
Aunt Gloria says
Get some rest!
Janine says
You too!! 😉
Bev says
I just made my annual eye doctor appointment. Truthfully, if I didn’t wear contact lenses and needed to get my eyes checked annually to have my prescription refilled, I probably wouldn’t go every year, but after reading this I see how important that yearly visit is. (I actually *just* made my appointment last week!). I know I have to do a better job limiting my screen time — challenging, as you know, when you’re a blgoger!
Janine says
Bev, I know and totally get the screen-time issue with being blogger, too. So, you are most definitely right about that!! 🙂
Kenya G. Johnson says
Wow what a sweet gift! I had a scare months before my wedding, where I experienced something like that in my right eye. But it resulted from migranes and all of it was brought on by stress. The migraines and the almost blind in one eye disappeared. I had a terrible eye doctor who told me that it was most likely a symptom of early onset MS. He had no compassion for a bride to be, just a brutal diagnosis. My mom took me to another doctor who told me it was most likely stress. She gave me something for the migraines and told me to come back after the wedding if my eyesight hadn’t completely returned. By the night of my rehearsal dinner my eye was almost 100% better. It was a scary experience though and I get my checkups either one or two years apart to make sure there are no changes. Fortunatley in all these years so far I kinda get by without glasses (not healthy but hard headed) but I really better have them when driving a night.
Janine says
Omg, I am so sorry that doctor just had a terrible bedside manner and just really glad that you found another doctor to put your mind at ease and give it to you straight. Seriously, nothing worse than a doctor who has no compassion and also scares you for no apparent reason at all. Hugs and just glad all turned out OK in the end 🙂
Jen says
Oh your grandma sounds amazing! I wear sunglasses all of the time, but my husband never does and he has had to have Cataract surgery because of it. Our eyes are so important! I think he need to make another follow up appointment with the Dr. for me. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Janine says
Happy to remind and thank you for your kid words about my grandmother here, too <3
Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama says
Aw Janine, I can feel the love in your words as you tell this story. The tips are great as well as I have really begun to pay attn to my eye health as well
Janine says
Thank you so much, Nellie and honestly just hope my grandmother knew how much I loved and admired her, too. Hugs <3
catherine gacad says
i’ve been wearing glasses since i was a kid and my eyesight deteriorates every year, so yes i get check regularly. sometimes i think about getting the operation to correct my eyesight, but that’s scary as well.
Janine says
My husband is the same way and even though he is a candidate for the surgery is scared to do it, too.
Kairi Gainsborough says
Thanks for sharing your story about your grandmother’s struggle with her vision. My eyesight has been getting noticeably worse, and it is now to the point where I have to squint even with contacts in. I haven’t been to the eye doctor in a while, so I should take your advice and start making annual appointments.
Janine says
Kairi, my pleasure to share my grandmother’s story and just hope her story does help you and others, too 😉