At the Jane Pauley Community Health Center, we believe caring for your eyes is just as important as caring for any other aspect of your health. Nearly 7 million people in the United States live with vision impairment, a powerful reminder of how essential routine eye care is for people of all ages.
We are proud to announce the launch of our new optometry service line, expanding our ability to care for the whole health of our patients. In recognition of Save Your Vision Month, our new optometrist, Dr. Anna Slemp, is also sharing expert guidance to help patients protect their vision and eye health.
Why Eye Health Matters
Vision loss affects millions of Americans and often goes undetected until it begins interfering with everyday life. Consider these important facts:
- 93 million adults, nearly 4 in 10, are at high risk for serious vision loss, yet only half visited an eye doctor in the past year.
- Many forms of vision loss can be prevented or delayed when caught early. For example, 90% of diabetes-related blindness in U.S. adults is preventable with proper monitoring and care.
- Access to vision care remains a challenge. More than 8 million adults who know they need eyeglasses report they cannot afford them.
By offering optometry services at the Jane Pauley Community Health Center, we aim to reduce barriers to care and make comprehensive eye exams more accessible for our community.
Expert Advice from Dr. Anna Slemp
Dr. Slemp emphasizes the critical role regular eye exams play in protecting long-term eye health: “The most important thing you can do to protect your eye health is ensure you are making regular visits to an optometrist. Vision loss and eye disease can be prevented or treated when caught early, so comprehensive eye exams are super important.”
In addition to routine exams, small daily habits can make a big difference: “You can also take steps in your everyday life to take care of your eyes. Make sure to wear eye protection at work and while engaging in sports as needed. It is also helpful to wear sunglasses to protect from UV rays and take breaks from screens throughout the day.”
The Connection Between Eye Health and Overall Health
Eye health is closely linked to other aspects of physical health and lifestyle. Dr. Slemp explains how certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of vision loss: “Eye health also has links to other parts of our health and lifestyle. For example, poor diet choices and smoking can increase the risk of eye disease. For example, smoking triples a person’s risk of developing Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Also, individuals with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes, are more likely to develop vision loss or ocular disease. For people with these risk factors, regular eye exams are even more important.”
For patients managing chronic conditions, eye exams can provide important clues about overall health: “When discussing eye health with patients that have chronic health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc.), I often tell them that the blood vessels within the eye are the only ones visible without making an incision. By keeping up with regular eye exams, we can monitor for any changes to the retina or blood vessels and if seen there, those changes could also be happening in other areas of the body.”
Caring for Your Vision Starts Here
The launch of our optometry service line is another step in our commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care. Whether you are due for a routine eye exam, managing a chronic condition, or concerned about changes in your vision, our team is here to support your eye health at every stage of life. Our new optometry offering is available to current patients at our Arlington location. Call us today to schedule an appointment!
Dr. Anna Slemp is an optometrist at the Arlington location of the Jane Pauley Community Health Center. She has been practicing optometry for 9 years, and she received her Doctor of Optometry from Indiana University.
