Preventative Eye Care
Eye Exams
The routine eye exams performed at the Cizik Eye Center are key to maintaining excellent eye health. Many eye conditions don’t have early warning signs, but regular exams can detect disease and other issues. Early treatment can prevent about half of all visual impairments.
Healthy adults under age 40 should undergo an eye exam every five to 10 years. Schedule an additional visit if you experience an eye injury, an eye infection, or experience any vision symptoms. Over the age of 40, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye exams every two to four years for healthy patients, and visits should increase to every year or two after age 60. There are many other steps that people can take to maintain their eye health, including:
Eating Right
In addition to regular eye exams, eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E, may help maintain eye health. These eye-friendly nutrients are linked to reduced risk of certain serious eye diseases. In addition, eating healthy and exercising can help prevent cardiovascular disease, which also has a negative effect on eye health.
Quitting Smoking
One of the most important steps a person can take to maintain eye health is to quit smoking. Smokers have significantly higher chances of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye damage. Smoking damages optic nerves and contributes to cardiovascular disease.
Wearing Sunglasses
People should wear quality sunglasses with both UV and UB protection when outside to avoid damage from the sun. Ultraviolet light can hurt the tissue of the eye, as well as the lens and cornea. Years of unprotected exposure to sunlight can cause blurred vision, excessive tearing and even blindness. Rates of cataracts and eye cancer are higher among people who spend significant time in the sun. People of all ages should take precautions outdoors.
Managing Screen Time
Take frequent breaks from staring at a screen, which can cause eyestrain, dry eyes, and blurry vision. Experts recommend blinking as often as possible while working on an electronic device and using the 20-20-20 rule to remember that you should shift your eyes every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Also, turn the brightness down on your screens so that your eyes don’t have to work as hard.
What you can expect at the Cizik Eye Clinic
The Cizik Eye Clinic opened in 2007 and is housed in Memorial Hermann Plaza at 6400 Fannin Street. It includes dozens of exam areas, multiple operating rooms, and laser suites equipped with the most sophisticated equipment available for patient care.
People travel from across the country and the world for treatment at the Cizik Eye Clinic, in part because our affiliation with the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth provides unmatched resources and expertise. Our friendly staff works diligently to make your visit pleasant and efficient, as we maximize patient flow through everything from routine eye exams to the most advanced eye surgeries.
Our physicians are faculty members at McGovern Medical School and are board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology or are board eligible. At the Cizik Eye Clinic, we understand that the eye is a small part of a whole patient who deserves top-notch, comprehensive care in a cutting-edge facility.
Contact Us
At Robert Cizik Eye Clinic, we offer patients access to highly specialized eye and vision care. To ask us a question, schedule an appointment, or learn more about us, please call (713) 486-9400, or click below to send us a message. In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.