While most people care about their vision, fewer people take steps to protect their eye health.

Indeed, nearly everyone (97 percent) agrees that having healthy eyes is important, but only half of those surveyed by VSP Vision Care and YouGov get annual eye exams. Unfortunately, even fewer people are aware of how important this preventive care is — only 1 percent of respondents in the same survey reported knowing that signs of serious diseases and conditions like high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, thyroid diseases and certain types of cancers can be detected through a comprehensive eye exam.

The experts at VSP Vision Care are offering the following tips for better eye health:

• Think about your overall health needs. Remember vision care isn’t just for people who need glasses or contacts — getting an annual comprehensive eye exam helps maintain overall health and wellness and can even aid in the early detection of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

• Consider your family’s needs. Only 12 percent of parents know children should receive their first eye exam at six months old, according to the VSP Vision Care and YouGov survey.

• Get covered. If you are buying vision insurance on your own, you can do so at any point. If you want to do so through an employer, you don’t necessarily have to wait until open enrollment season to get covered. If you go through a life event like getting married, having a baby or moving to a different zip code, you are eligible to enroll in coverage outside the typical enrollment period. And you can get the most out of your vision benefits by ensuring coverage gives you access to a large network of vision providers with practices located near you.

In the case of VSP Vision Care, members have access to more than 40,000 VSP network doctors.

To keep your eyes healthy and functional, be sure to get preventive services like a comprehensive eye exam every year. Doing so can help protect your overall health and wellness. (StatePoint)