Although many people don't realize it, the best way to protect your vision is with a yearly eye checkup. At Advanced VisionCare, that basic vision test is brief, painless and relatively inexpensive. And it's also hugely important because even a basic eye exam can quickly detect such health-threatening conditions as tumors, vascular irregularities and diabetes-related injury to the retina.

It sounds rather obvious, at first - but you might be surprised to learn how many people don't seem to understand the crucial importance of yearly eye exams.

Did you know, for example, that while 87 percent of those who own automobiles are careful to get them serviced annually, only 56 percent of U.S. adults bother to schedule a yearly eye exam, according to a recent health survey?

Unfortunately, it's true. And the results can be nothing less than tragic, at times. All too often, significant vision conditions go undetected until it's too late to prevent partial loss of eyesight, or even blindness. Although many people don't realize it, we depend heavily on our eyes to ensure our "quality of life" - which means that a significant loss of vision can cause major health issues, including clinical depression and physical ailments related to lack of mobility and exercise.

Fortunately for all of us, getting a regular yearly eye exam can prevent many of these bleak outcomes from taking place. Here's a quick rundown of some of the eye care conditions that we treat daily at Advanced Vision Care:

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration. The leading cause of blindness among senior citizens today, ARMD occurs when cells in the critically important "macula" section of the retina begin to die off for reasons that are not yet fully understood. Eventually, the damaged macula weakens the retina's ability to perceive light. Although the disease can't be prevented, the good news for patients is that it can be slowed down significantly, if detected early enough. Depending on the type of ARMD involved, your optometrist will prescribe medications, surgery and dietary supplements to slow the progress of the disorder. In many cases, ARMD can be "stabilized" for years at a time, without significant vision loss.
• Glaucoma. Caused by excessive pressure in the eyeball, glaucoma can also produce blindness in some patients. But this condition can usually be corrected by surgery or medications, if detected before the optic nerve is significantly damaged.
• Cataracts. With aging, the lens of the eye grows cloudy and yellow due to constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. After detection, however, cataract surgery can restore vision in most patients.
• Diabetic Retinopathy. This eyesight-threatening condition, triggered by damage to tiny blood vessels that feed the retina, can often be slowed and managed effectively by making changes in the diabetic patient's diet and exercise patterns. In some cases, daily injections of insulin may be needed in order to control blood-sugar levels and thus effectively control the diabetes. Patients with diabetes should work out a regular schedule of eye checkups with their doctor, in order to make sure the disease isn't affecting their eyesight.
• Refractive Errors. As the eyes age, vision usually becomes less acute and subject to errors. A yearly eye checkup will allow your doctor to measure your eyesight and correct aging-related flaws with eyeglasses or contacts.
• Pediatric Eye Care. As many pediatric health care researchers have pointed out in recent years, more than two-thirds of a child's schoolroom education depends on his or her vision. And that's why it's so important to schedule an eye exam for your child, right before schooling begins in kindergarten or first grade. In most cases, your eye care provider can correct any refractive errors with appropriate lenses - while also helping the child to choose an eyewear style that will fit in well at school.