Tolia Eye Clinic

May is Healthy Vision Month, and Nalin H. Tolia, M.D., F.A.C.S., wants you to be aware of the importance of regular eye examinations.

  "Everyone, no matter what their age, needs to have their eyes examined regularly to detect and prevent conditions that may lead to blindness if left untreated," Dr. Tolia says. "Unfortunately, recent surveys show a lack of knowledge when it comes to scheduling regular, comprehensive eye exams."

  At the time of the 2000 Census, there were 72.3 million children under the age of 18 in the United States. Of those, only 31 percent had undergone a comprehensive eye and vision examination during the past year. Of those under age 6, only 14 percent had undergone an examination.

  The adult population also falls down when it comes to scheduling regular eye exams. It is estimated that 32 percent of Americans who wear contact lenses or glasses have not visited an eye doctor within the past year.    Those who don't use any corrective lenses also do not visit an eye doctor or eye specialist as often as they should; 35 percent admitted they have not visited an eye specialist for five years or longer.

  "Yet conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, which are usually detected by a vision care provider, can rob you of your eyesight," Dr. Tolia says.

  Most Americans (67 percent) believe that glaucoma can be prevented with proper eye care. However, this is not the case.

Glaucoma can only be treated, not prevented. And early detection is the key to proper treatment.

  "Glaucoma is like a thief in the night," Dr. Tolia says. "It is called the silent disease, because typically there are no symptoms until the disease is well advanced."

  According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 54 million Americans aged 40 to 74 (40.1 percent of the U.S. population in this age group) have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

  People with diabetes are at increased risk for glaucoma as well as diabetic retinopathy, Dr. Tolia says. In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels of the retina are obstructed. If the condition goes untreated, it can lead to blindness.

  "It is especially important for individuals who are at high risk for diabetes to visit an eye doctor regularly for dilated eye exams," Dr. Tolia says.

   Dr. Tolia is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthal-
mology, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons. He understands the importance of eyesight and strives to be a partner with his patients in caring for their eyes.

  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Tolia Eye Clinic at (432) 362-2020.