From opticians and optometrists through to ophthalmologists, there is a range of eye care professionals working to keep your eyes healthy.

A recent study by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society said 76 per cent of Canadians consider eye health very important, but only 20 per cent prioritize it.

Dr. Nina Ahuja, with the C-O-S, says eye health is an important part of our overall well-being.

“I don’t know that they realize how interconnected it is to the overall well being. Eye tests don’t just detect vision changes, we can actually see early signs of diseases in the body like diabetes and high blood pressure as examples.”

Ahuja said we can be complacent with our vision when nothing seems to be wrong, but that many eye conditions can sneak up on us, including glaucoma and macular degeneration.

She added that early detection is key to treating conditions and preventing them from worsening.

For more on eye health and how to protect it, catch Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.