Being a fan of random trivia and wacky holiday,s I discovered August is National Eye Exam month! When it comes to your optical health, there’s more than meets the eye. (See what I did there?) Eye health is an extremely important factor in a child's education. About 80 percent of our learning is done with our eyes. To help raise awareness in honor of National Eye Exam month, here are five fun facts about eyes!
1. National Eye Exam month was founded in 1989 by Sears Optical. Book an eye exam at Sears Optical as you prepare to head back to school! Sears Optical promotes regular eye exams for the best eye health possible. More information can be found by clicking the hyperlink above. They address every age group from young children to adults.
2. The human eye can distinguish around 10 million different colors. We often don't appreciate all the colors we are able to see. It's important to keep them healthy with regular eye exams so that we can continue to enjoy this gift. An article about night vision goggles stated that goggles used to see in the dark show green hues because our eyes can see more shades of green than any other color. The next time you go for a walk outside, observe all the different shades of green trees, grass, signs and lights that are around. This may put into perspective the millions of colors our eyes are able to detect.
3. Researchers have successfully treated adults with lazy eyes by having patients play Tetris. According to an article in the Huffington Post in 2013, Researchers from McGill University discovered that Tetris could help people with lazy eyes train their eye. Not only is it a fun game, it's a health remedy for some people!
4. Eyeballs can get sunburnt! Sunscreen to skin is sunglasses to eyes. The sun can do more damage to your eyes than you can imagine! Be sure to protect your eyes all year round by wearing sunglasses or protective hats. Keep in mind, sunglasses aren't only meant for summertime!
5. An optometrist is able to spot early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and high cholesterol just by conducting an eye exam. Not only is an eye exam beneficial to your optical health, it can also play a role in your overall health.
This August, participate in National Eye Exam month and make sure your optical health is in good shape. I annually visit my eye doctor for my back-to-school eye exam. Good vision is key to a good education. I have worn glasses since I was 9 years old and switched to contacts later in life. I found that my grades greatly improved upon the discovery of my poor optical health. Inform your family and friends and spread awareness that August is National Eye Exam Month.