Delta Dental of Iowa’s Post

Ultraviolet (UV) light can harm your eyes and raise your risk of cataracts, growths on the eye and cancer. Follow these tips to protect your eyes from sun damage all year long. https://ow.ly/4iuR50SlkIY

👁️✨ Today, on World Glaucoma Day, we're shedding light on a silent thief of sight: Glaucoma. Did you know that glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide? Shockingly, millions of individuals are affected, yet many aren't even aware they have it. 🔍 Glaucoma often sneaks up without symptoms until significant vision loss occurs, making regular eye check-ups absolutely crucial. Early detection is key to preventing irreversible damage and preserving vision. 💡 Here are some eye-opening facts about glaucoma: - It affects over 76 million people globally. - Despite its prevalence, nearly half of those affected are unaware of their condition. - Glaucoma doesn't discriminate by age and can impact anyone from infants to the elderly. - Genetics play a significant role in determining susceptibility to glaucoma. While high intraocular pressure is a risk factor, not everyone with high pressure develops glaucoma. - Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment. 👩⚕️ Treatment options like medication, laser therapy, and surgery can slow or halt glaucoma's progression, preserving remaining vision and quality of life. 🌍 Let's use World Glaucoma Day as a reminder to prioritize eye health, get regular check-ups, and raise awareness about this sight-stealing disease. Together, we can ensure that everyone has access to early detection and quality eye care. #WorldGlaucomaDay #EyeHealth #VisionCare Spread the word and let's make a difference in preserving sight worldwide! 👁️✨

Day 10 of Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Month Three weeks after surgeries were completed, in the beginning of October 2019, I started 6 weeks (30 treatment days) of radiation therapy. Prior to beginning treatment, we made the lovely mask seen on me in the photo below. It was so tight to my face that I couldn't open my eyes without my eyelashes hitting it. The only hole was for the bite block I had to keep in place to hold my tongue down. Every day, Monday through Friday, for 30 days, I drove an hour to my treatment center, changed into a gown, and laid in the exact same position on the table. Every day the giant foam popsicle went into my mouth (which could barely open wide enough), the mask went on and locked me tightly to the table, the staff left and worked behind the safety of giant cement walls, and laser beams rotated around my skull and neck for a few minutes while I tried not to move or choke on my own spit. That was the easy part. See, the interesting thing about radiation is the treatment itself is painless. In fact, I felt nothing physical at all each time I laid on that table. The side effects are insidious and cumulative. By the end of treatment, I legitimately felt like we had sucked away years of my life. . .so naturally I did what any millennial would do and made a meme about it referencing one of the greatest films of all time (this is not up for debate). I'm not sure I would have survived this treatment without my ridiculous sense of humor. #headandneckcancer #cancersurvivor #survivorship #humor #radiationtherapy

World Glaucoma week Glaucoma Awareness Week is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about glaucoma, an eye condition that can lead to vision loss and blindness if left untreated. As we joined the global community in the conversation about glaucoma, here are some key takeaways: Glaucoma is characterized by damage to the optic nerve, often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which can lead to irreversible vision loss and blindness if left untreated. The condition typically develops gradually and without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, earning it the nickname “the silent thief of sight.” As glaucoma progresses, individuals may experience peripheral vision loss, tunnel vision, and, eventually, complete blindness. Risk factors for glaucoma include age, family history, and certain medical conditions (such as diabetes). While there is currently no cure for glaucoma, early detection through regular eye exams and appropriate treatment usually involving eye drops, laser therapy, or surgery can help slow the progression of the disease and preserve vision. Glaucoma underscores the importance of proactive eye care and highlights the significance of public awareness campaigns to promote early detection and timely intervention. #boostopticals #boost #glaucomaawareness #glaucoma #awarenessweek #awarenessweek2024 #optometry #eyecarenigeria

The heat is on! While we all know that sunscreen protects against sunburn and skin cancer, did you know that your eyes can also become sunburnt? Photokeratitis is a condition that makes eyes red and painful after long periods of sun exposure. If left untreated it can even lead to macular degeneration and eye cancer. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2V8bp5k

July is #UVSafetyMonth! Did you know that prolonged sun exposure isn’t just linked to skin cancer, it’s also linked to eye cancer? Learn about how to protect your eyes from UV rays: https://ow.ly/kXil50SsvzU

One of the things that I’ve learned whilst climbing this #breastcancer mountain is that I HAVE to carve out more time for me. When I finished chemo it felt like someone had gifted me time, and I got to choose how I wanted to reallocate that time. Because cancer (treatment) takes over everything. You are no longer in control of your day to day life - 70% of my time was on having treatment, recovering from treatment or attending appointments. The other 30% of my time I had these small windows to cram in living AND making a living. And whilst I’m still living my life for a while longer in 3 weekly treatment cycles and managing the after effects of treatment - this current treatment doesn’t come with the side effects that chemo/surgery and radiotherapy unleashed on my body. And for the first time in nearly a year I can take myself back to source and nourish myself in water. My Picc line is out. Surgery scars are healed. The radiation side effects on my skin have settled. And as a treat for finishing my book my dad has booked me in for a whole day spa experience. And the only way I will switch off is by firmly putting that boundary in place. Giving myself permission to switch off *entirely* There is no team behind me. It really is just me in my business and setting an out of office means that I’m managing people’s expectations and I’m also showing that I’m a human being - not a human doing. Tomorrow I plan to let my mind roam free. To just be. No demands. No screens. No checking my inbox. Just me and a spa. And the world will wait I’ve discovered if you are brave enough to lead the way. That’s a lesson I’ve learned. #climbingthemountain #workingwithcancer

Did you know that optometrists can sometimes be the first to detect health issues such diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer? Check out one of my “OptoMemoirs” here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gXSXq5wj

Today is #MelanomaMonday, a day dedicated to raising awareness about melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Truck driver health care comes to mind. Taking care of your health is crucial, especially when you spend long hours on the road. Your well-being matters to us. Stay healthy, stay safe, and keep on truckin'! 🌟 #TruckDriverHealth #SkincareAwareness #StayHealthyOnTheRoad https://okt.to/JpibOD

Eye retinoblastoma