"Many people don't realize that their eyes are a great indicator of their overall health," says Sandy T. Feldman MD, a San Diego-based physician and one of the nation's most respected ophthalmologists. "That's why eye exams are so important. They can identify far more than just vision problems."
Eye doctors are often the first to detect signs of serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Many chronic conditions have no symptoms and may go unnoticed by patients and their primary care physicians.
According to VSP Vision Care, the nation's top eye-healthy cities for 2014 are:
1. Boise, Idaho
2. Reno, Nevada
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4. Huntsville, Alabama
5. Des Moines, Iowa
6. Colorado Springs, Colorado
7. Birmingham, Alabama
8. Little Rock, Arkansas
9. Denver, Colorado
10. Evansville, Indiana
For people under 40, a full exam every five to ten years is recommended, or annually for those who wear glasses or contacts. After age 40, every two years is a good rule of thumb. People with a family history of eye disease, previous eye surgeries or injuries, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or who are over 65 should have more frequent exams.
"Even if you think your vision is fine, you should have your eyes examined on a regular basis, particularly if you are over 40," says Dr. Feldman. "Eye exams for children are also important. Kids with undetected vision problems don't know what ‘normal' vision looks like, and may not complain if they have difficulty seeing."
About Sandy T. Feldman, MD
Sandy T. Feldman, MD is the Medical Director of Clearview Eye & Laser Medical Center-voted best LASIK center in San Diego by CityBeat Magazine in 2013-and has successfully performed more than 20,000 refractive procedures. Her numerous awards include "Top Doc San Diego" and the Goldline Award, an honor granted to only 10 laser eye care providers in the U.S. each year, and she has been profiled in Forbes, Newsweek, and other respected publications. Dr. Feldman is a fellow of the prestigious American College of Ophthalmic Surgeons, as well as a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. For more information, please visit clearvieweyes.com.
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