Daily HealthBeat Tip

Seeing your way clear.

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

As we get older, our ability to see can go down � and sometimes, glasses or contact lenses don't seem to help. Low vision can make it difficult to do things like read, work, cook or walk outside.

Seeing a vision professional such an eye doctor is a good step. You can be checked and maybe treated for conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration.

But even when it can't be cured, that doesn't mean you can't get help. You might try things like adjustable lighting, magnifying devices, large print publications and computer systems that talk.

And at the National Eye Institute, the director of the Health Education Program, Rosemary Janiszewski, says tips are a mouse click away on the Web, at nihseniorhealth.gov:

"The most important thing that they'll find is that there is help for them, and vision rehabilitation services and devices do exist." (seven seconds)

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August 9, 2005

The White House | USA.gov | HHS Archive | No FEAR Act