Experts weigh in on prioritizing eye health during Healthy Vision Month

DELMARVA – Taking care of your eyes is a priority, just like eating healthy and physical activity.

Some citizens in Delmarva suffer from vision impairments, but not everyone can afford to address those issues.

In honor of Healthy Vision Month, the CDC is teaming up with the National Eye Institute to prioritize eye health. They say if you haven’t had an exam in a while, schedule one now, but what if you’re not financially able to do so?

The CDC reports more than 3.3 million Americans 40 years or older are legally blind or have low vision. The Commonwealth Fund Health Care Affordability Survey reports 51% of Americans with health insurance, still have difficulty affording care.

Fruitland resident Cynthia Beckett has been having vision problems for the past 3 months and says other ailments, like diabetes, make her vision that much worse. “You know, half of us do need eyeglasses and majority of us sometimes can’t afford it… Well right now, my left eye is bleeding in the back, so it’s like I can see you, but if I close up my right eye, I can’t see you. It’d like the blood is blocking my vision.”

Optometrist Dr. Phillip DeMott is the owner of Betts and DeMott Eye Care & Optical Boutique in Seaford. He tells us that many serious eye conditions have no symptoms and yearly exams can help with early detection, saying in part, “Eyes can change over time, and your prescription for glasses or contact lenses may need to be updated. An outdated prescription can lead to eye strain, headaches, and impaired vision, affecting your daily activities and quality of life.”

This, unfortunately, is everyday life for Daniel Baker of Delmar. “I have regular insurance, health insurance, but I don’t have vision or dental, so these prescription glasses are like 2 prescriptions ago… I just can’t afford new ones.” After her recent scare, Cynthia says she regularly keeps up with her vision appointments, but she’s not so sure her insurance will cover all her major prescriptions. “I hope it would, because if it don’t, I wouldn’t be able to afford it.”

Despite their financial struggles, both Daniel and Cynthia acknowledge the importance of vision care, and their frustration with insurance agencies. “Oh, very important. I’m mean you’re just driving or reading. These, like I say, are getting to the point where I can’t even read a prescription bottle… Health insurance, you would think, eyes, and your vision, and your dental is very important to your overall health. I mean it makes it dangerous to drive or operate machinery if you don’t have the proper vision, so, it’s very important. It should be affordable to everybody.”

Dr. Phillip DeMott also described myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness. This condition is where distant objects appear blurry, while close objects can be seen clearly.
He tells us to increase preventative measures, give your eyes a rest from close up tasks such as reading and screen time. He also says that having an eye exam is beneficial to your overall health, and the that the scans can provide a clear view of blood vessels. Eye exams can reveal signs of systemic health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even some neurological conditions.