The Costco Connection

When to see
an eye doctor
right away

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY of Ophthalmology suggests seeing an ophthalmologist immediately if you notice:

• Bulging of one or both eyes.

• A dark curtain or veil that
blocks your vision.
• Decreased vision, even
if temporary.

• Double vision.

• Excess tearing.

• Injury to an eye.

• Loss of peripheral (side) vision.

• Pain in the eye.

• Unusual or persistent redness.

for your

health

needs to be checked annually. Those with certain medical problems, such as diabetes and some autoimmune diseases, also need annual monitoring, she says.

Overall health and your eyes

Taking care of your overall health is also
important for your eyes, says Dr. Anne
Sumers, an ophthalmologist in Ridgewood,
New Jersey, and a spokesperson for the
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “If
you smoke, stop,” she urges. “Smoking
increases the risk of vision loss from macular
degeneration and cataracts.”
Carefully managing any chronic condi-
tions—such as diabetes, coronary heart dis-
ease or obesity—can also play a role in eye
health, says Bishop. What affects the body
affects the eye, she explains.

Sumers, a Costco member, recommends eating a healthy diet with lots of green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes and carrots. She also suggests getting plenty of omega- 3 fatty acids and cold-water fish, such as salmon. “A healthy diet really does help prevent eye disease,” she says.

Protecting eyes from accidents is also important. Cal Martindale, an optometrist at Costco in Westlake Village, California, got hit in the head playing basketball a few years ago and suffered a retinal detachment. “I wear sport goggles now,” he says.

Wear polarized sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat to protect you from ultraviolet light and glare. Sunglasses with 98 percent ultraviolet protection are like sunscreen for your eyes, says Martindale.

What not to do

Sumers says there are some things you should avoid doing.

Don’t rub your eyes. If they itch, try artificial tears, a cold compress on your eyes or nonprescription anti-itch drops. If that

The Costco Connection

Members can obtain a comprehensive eye exam and other services, and purchase glasses, polarized sunglasses and contact lenses, at Costco Optical Departments.

Contact lenses and reading glasses are also available on Costco.com.

Eyes are the prize

Preventing and treating eye problems

By Barbara Bronson Gray

IT’S EASY TO take your eyes for granted.

That’s why the National Eye Institute dedicates the month of May to making eye health a priority.

Your eyes won’t alert you to serious problems, says Dr. Rachel Bishop, an ophthalmologist with the National Eye Institute, in Bethesda, Maryland. “There are a whole lot of body systems that hurt when you have a problem, but with vision and eyes, the most common diseases don’t have early warning signs,” she explains.

We get accustomed to our vision as it changes, and if we do notice small changes, we figure it is just due to aging, says Bishop. But vision loss is not normal. “If you notice a change in vision at any age, it deserves attention,” she says. Some 14 million Americans are visually impaired and 11 million would benefit from glasses or contact lenses.

What you can do now

If you haven’t had a complete eye exam, once you’re 40, it’s time, Bishop says. It involves vision screening and putting drops in the eyes to open the pupils and examine the eye’s structure, including the retina.

It’s also a good time to have a quick, painless test for glaucoma, an increase in eye pressure that can cause loss of sight. Depending on what genetic or ethnic risk factors you may have, you may be advised to come back every one to two years. African-Americans have a higher risk of glaucoma.

If you wear contact lenses, the cornea
doesn’t work, see an ophthalmologist.
Never use other people’s eye drops or eye
medicines. What was prescribed for them may
not be right for you.
Don’t ignore symptoms. If anything
changes or bothers you, get it checked out.
Don’t wear old eye makeup. Throw it
away after three months, never borrow
makeup and remove it thoroughly every night.