Your Guide to Better Vision (and Better Adventures)

Explore expert eye-health tips and our latest travel features below.

  • A comprehensive exam can reveal problems years before you notice any vision changes as most sight-threatening diseases (glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration) begin without symptoms. Adults should try to get one once a year. When your doctor asks about health conditions, medications, sleep, or diet, they are not being nosy; they’re connecting dots that could save your sight or your health. Inflammation, high cholesterol, autoimmune disease, even certain cancers sometimes show up first in the retina or on the eye’s surface.

    Screens don’t ruin your eyes, but digital eye strain does cause burning, blurring, and headaches. Many remedies are simple, like keeping screens an arm’s length away and practicing the 20/20/20 plus rule (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, and blink strongly 5 times). If you’re over 40, think about task glasses; the right prescription can do more for productivity than the newest monitor.

    Contacts are medical devices, not fashion accessories. Improper use can cause sight-threatening problems. Sleeping in lenses is discouraged unless your doctor recommends it. Avoid contact with water while wearing contacts. Wash your hands, rub and rinse your lenses, replace cases every three months, and never “top off” solution.

    Dilation may be an inconvenience, but it allows a panoramic view of your retina. Yes, new wide-field imaging is excellent, but they should complement dilation rather than replace it. Declining dilation to “save time” might mean missing a small tear that becomes tomorrow’s emergency.

    Sunglasses are your friend. Quality UV protection keeps your vision clear and comfortable for years to come. Lenses should block 100% of UV rays. Tint color or price doesn’t guarantee safety, so focus on protection. If you spend lots of time outdoors, larger or wrap-around frames (and a good hat) add extra defense against the sun while keeping you looking stylish.

    Finally, speak up. Tell your doctor and optician how you use your eyes—long-haul driving, quilting, dual monitors, night shifts. The best prescription is the one matched to your life, not just the line you read on a chart. Your vision is a partnership. Let’s protect it—on purpose, not by accident.

A Gift for Your Future Self: Preventive Eye Care

If you only see your eye doctor when something hurts or when things are blurry, you are missing the most powerful part of eyecare: prevention. Vision is more than just reading letters on a line; your eyes tell the story of your whole body. Here are a few preventative eyecare tips…

  • Dry eye happens when your tears evaporate and expose the surface of your eye to the air, removing the protection and lubrication the tear film provides. In diabetes, elevated blood sugar alters the quality of tears and reduces natural tear production. Long-term high glucose also damages the tiny nerves that signal your eyes to blink, leading to faster tear evaporation. Most people also develop issues with the oil-producing meibomian glands along the eyelids, making tears less stable.

    Common symptoms include burning, stinging, a gritty or sandy feeling, redness, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision that improves after blinking. Paradoxically, you might even notice watery eyes; your eye’s SOS response to irritation. Left untreated, dry eye can increase infection risk and make daily tasks like reading or driving uncomfortable.

    Simple habits can make a real difference. Follow the “20/20/20 Plus” rule to reduce screen strain: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink strongly 5 times. Supplement omega-3 fish or algae oils shooting for 1,000mg of EPA and DHA each. A bedside humidifier can counteract dry indoor heat. Stay hydrated and talk with your clinician about whether any of your medications might worsen dryness.

    Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) are a safe first step; choose preservative-free options if you use them more than four times a day. Avoid redness-relieving drops, which can backfire with overuse. If symptoms persist, an eye care professional can check for inflammation, eyelid disease, or allergic components and tailor treatments such as prescription anti-inflammatory drops, punctal plugs to conserve tears, or in-office therapies for the eyelid glands.

    Most importantly, keep blood sugar in your target range and schedule a comprehensive, dilated eye exam at least once a year, sooner if you notice new symptoms. Managing diabetes and dry eye together helps protect not just comfort, but long-term vision. If your eyes feel like November’s fallen leaves—dry and brittle—consider it a prompt to act now and see clearly through the months ahead.

Diabetic Dry Eye: Why November Is the Time to Pay Attention

November is Diabetes Awareness Month—and for many people living with diabetes, it’s also when dry, scratchy, irritated eyes seem to flare. Cooler weather, indoor heating, and more screen time can worsen a condition called dry eye disease. Dry eye disease is uncomfortable enough. When diabetes is in the picture, the risk of dry eye is higher and the symptoms can be more stubborn, but the good news is there’s a lot you can do to protect comfortable, clear vision…

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