Peeper-protecting: HEALTH HACKS

We often see our sight decline as inevitable, but taking care now can actually protect your vision for years to come

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When was the last time you paid attention to your peepers? New Zealand women are skipping routine eye checks, which is placing them at a greater risk of developing otherwise treatable eye diseases, according to the latest research by Specsavers.

Of a nationally representative sample of 1500 women surveyed in December, 89 percent admitted to having experienced an issue with their eyes, but nearly a quarter of those said they didn't see an optometrist or a healthcare professional and instead waited for the issue to go away on its own.

Fact

The equivalent of more than one-third of Kiwi women have never had their eyes checked or can't recall the last time they did.

Women are also putting the needs of their children or their work ahead of their own medical needs. The study showed 37 percent of women had cancelled or postponed a medical appointment to prioritise the needs of children over their own health, while another third had prioritised work.

Take care with the following tips to help future-proof your vision and eye health.

Pay attention

Dr Angela According to ophthalmologist Jennings, there are eye conditions you shouldn't ignore. These include flashing lights, fading colours, seeing "halos" around lights and persistent light sensitivity. One reason is that these are symptoms of early-stage cataracts (a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye) that should be checked and treated by an ophthalmologist, usually with glasses and sometimes with surgery.

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