By Adam Donnelly

Eye health can help determine overall health

May 13, 2016 | 5:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — Human vision is a spectacular feat of nature, so it’s important to keep your eyes in good health. With May being Vision Health Month in Canada, what better time to head to the optometrist to find out the best way to keep your eyes working their best.

For Shona McViegh, caring for her eyes has been a lifelong priority. “I wear contacts, yes. I’ve worn contacts since I was 17 years old,” McViegh told CFJC Today.

A visit to the eye doctor is as important as a visit to her general practitioner: “You don’t realize how much the optometrist … can glean from just looking in the eyes,” McViegh said

As the old saying goes, you can tell a lot from a person’s eyes. “It’s amazing,” Dr. Russ Ebata admitted. “The tiny little blood vessels in the back of people’s eyes are extremely sensitive. They can pick up changes in your overall physical health, even before you notice an symptoms.”

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Dr. Ebata says there are some simple steps a person can make to improve the health of their eyes. Protect your eyes from the sun, quit smoking, and eat a healthy diet.

“Your eyes are just part of your overall body, so the better you take care of your body, the better your eyes are going to be,” Dr. Ebata said.

According to Dr. Ebata, getting a yearly eye examination is an important way to ensure the health of your eyes remains good: “By picking up the changes early enough, you can prevent further damage that may cause a loss of vision.”