May is Vision Health Month. Your eyes are one of the most important organs in your body, and keeping them healthy is very important. Regular checkups and always noticing changes in your vision will prevent issues and problems from arising before it’s too late.
Booking an eye exam with your local optometrist is relatively simple and should be done once a year.
Young or old, booking an eye exam to catch problems or issues early can be remedied with treatments prescribed by your doctor.
Optometrists have practices in over 94 communities throughout B.C., including several doctors here in the Cariboo-Chilcotin.
For toddlers and school-aged children, it is important that they receive eye tests so that their vision is adequate to be able to concentrate and learn. Entering adulthood, exams can catch age-related conditions or assist in curing nuisances such as dry, itchy or watery eyes.
MSP covers annual routine eye examinations for persons aged 65 or older, or aged 18 and younger.
Low-income families are also eligible to enter the BC Healthy Kids Program to cover the basic costs of eyewear for children.
You can find more information by calling the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation Info Line at 1-866-866-0800.
If you have specific questions of MSP your coverage of eye care you can call their toll-free line at 1-800-663-7100.
It is important to consider the fact that eye-care is a part of your whole body health, and other symptoms or conditions may be caught if you take good care of your eyes.
Check out the British Columbia Doctors of Optometry website at www.bc.doctorsofoptometry.ca to find a clinic closest to you and neat tips and tricks of many simple ways you can take care of your eyes.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin.