A recent Harris Poll found that nearly two out of three American adults report having medical eye issues or vision problems. The majority of them fail to have medical eye exams that could possibly save their sight.

The Harris Poll, commissioned by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, showed that 64 percent of adults had at least one of these problems with their eyes or vision:

• Blurred vision
  
• Trouble seeing at night
  
• Double vision
  
• Experiencing flashes of light
  
• Problems reading up close
  
• Symptoms of red or watery eyes

Ophthalmologists are committed to helping people maintain healthy eyes and vision as they age. “It is very important to see an ophthalmologist for any medical eye issues,” says Neal A. Sher, MD, FACS. “Just like the rest of our body, our eyes are impacted with age and they deserve the highest level of care. Common age-related eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, can begin to steal your vision before you even realize it.”

“Regular dilated eye exams are important for catching problems before vision loss occurs. These regular eye exams can prevent potentially blinding eye disease and should be part of a patient’s overall health maintenance plan.”