A new study indicates that people who purchase contact lenses online may run greater eye health risks than those who purchase them from an eye care professional.

Eye care behavior may be a contributing factor. The study shows that a higher number of people who purchase lenses from an eye doctor also receive yearly comprehensive eye exams.

People who purchase online are less likely to schedule an appointment to make sure their new lenses fit properly. As a result, they run the risk of unanticipated consequences.

Yearly exams routinely check for adjustments of prescriptions because eyesight can change without obvious indications. An incorrect prescription can cause discomfort, headaches and other problems. Exams also provide early detection of disease. The onset of disease is not always apparent at the early stages, but many conditions can be corrected with early intervention.

We hope you will let us assist you with ordering your contact lens prescription. But if you purchase online, make sure you follow up with an appointment. We can verify that you have the correct prescription, make sure your lenses fit and help you with proper contact lens care and maintenance.

The majority of people suffering from macular degeneration have the dry form. About 90% of those diagnosed have the dry form which progresses slowly and is usually less damaging to the central vision. Sufferers can use magnifiers and other aids to help improve their sight.

That’s the good news. But about 10% of those with the dry form advance to the more damaging wet form. It is called “wet” because of the leaky blood vessels that grow under the retina.

To reduce your risk of either kind, avoid smoking and adopt a lifestyle that decreases your risk of heart disease such as making adjustments to your diet and adding more physical exercise to your daily activity. Early intervention can slow the deterioration.

• The human eye is approximately 2.3 centimeters long and weighs 28 grams
• On average, your eyes blink 11,000 times a day or 12 times a minute
• An eagle can spot an animal three times as far away as a human can
• Your eyes can distinguish 500 shades of gray
• The #1 cause of blindness in American adults is diabetes

Knowledge is the best insurance against vision loss. If you learn as much as you can about your eyes—and how to care for them—you will extend and protect your eyesight well into old age.