Picture description: I am taking a selfie in the mirror. I am wearing a pink denim jacket, black and white gingham top, blue jeans and blue mask.
It’s National Eye Health Week!
When I first noticed a change to my vision last year I headed to my opticians that day. I never thought I’d eventually be diagnosed with an inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects my vision, *BUT* I also never thought that almost one year on from those first changes, I’d have as much vision as I do (thanks to a good handful of pills every day and night to help me along).
It is so, SO important to get regular eye tests (at least every two years - even if you think you vision hasn’t changed) and to get any changes to vision checked ASAP; even if they seem small. The RNIB has reported that at least *half* of sight loss is avoidable. All the steroids, immunosuppressants and injections - as tough as they are - have helped me massively, which is why I really want to advocate for people to get their eyes checked. And I know that given the current climate, eye clinics, opticians and hospitals can all seem like scary places, but they do all have measures in place to make sure patients can safely get their vision checked (as someone who went to hospital around ten times during the pandemic, trust me, being there is not as scary as it seems!).
Other things you can do to help keep your eyes in good form include; eating healthy (leafy greens especially) and protecting your eyes from UV rays.
This Eye Health Week I'll be sharing some stories from the friends I have made across the Instagram community. Some of these friends have PIC too, and others have completely different conditions! They'll each be sharing their stories and their advice on helping to manage eye health. Keep your eyes peeled (pardon the pun) for these updates!
B, x
Comments