Make Your Eye Health a Priority in the New Year

As the calendar turns to a fresh year, it's a good time to think about your goals, health check‑ins, and ways to feel your best. But there’s one part of your health that’s often overlooked until a problem arises: your eyes. 

At Stevens Eye Care, ophthalmologist Clayton Stevens, MD, and our team here in Biloxi, Mississippi, know that vision shouldn’t come to the surface only when there’s a problem, but should be actively cared for all year long. 

Whether you’ve noticed vision changes, are managing a chronic condition, or just want to stay ahead of future eye concerns, this year is a perfect time to put your eye health front and center. We’re here to guide you.

Start with a comprehensive eye exam

Your first step toward better eye health is a comprehensive eye exam. Rather than just a quick vision check for glasses or contacts, you need a full assessment of your eye health from front to back.

During your exam, Dr. Clayton will:

• Evaluate visual acuity and update your prescriptions
• Screen for common eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration
• Check for signs of retinal issues or systemic conditions like diabetes that can threaten your eyesight

Even if you feel your vision is perfectly fine, many problematic eye conditions develop slowly and silently. Early detection makes a huge difference in preserving your sight. 

If it’s been over a year since your last visit, schedule your comprehensive exam today and make it a priority this year.

Manage common eye concerns

As you get older, your eyes can develop issues that affect comfort and vision. You don’t have to struggle through them and hope they just go away. We offer solutions that can help right away.

Dry eye, for example, makes your eyes gritty, red, irritated, and incredibly uncomfortable. We provide lubricating treatments that improve your tear quality and give you quick relief.

Other conditions we keep a close eye on are:

• Cataracts — the clouding of the lenses that can blur your vision
• Glaucoma — an eye disease that can damage your optic nerve and lead to vision loss
• Diabetic retinopathy — changes in your retina due to diabetes that can threaten your sight
• Macular degeneration — age‑related wear to the central vision area, which affects reading and recognizing faces

If you already have one of these conditions, we create a personalized plan to monitor and manage it throughout the year.

Healthy eye habits to adopt today

Taking care of your eyes doesn’t just happen in the exam chair here in our office. You play a big role in your day‑to‑day eye health, too. 

Here are simple steps that make a big difference:

• Eat a balanced diet full of leafy greens, omega‑3s, and colorful vegetables
• Wear UV‑blocking sunglasses whenever you’re outside
• Give your eyes regular breaks from screens by following the 20‑20‑20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
• Keep chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes under control
• If you smoke, quit because it increases your risk for several serious eye diseases

These easy habits can help preserve your vision for decades to come.

This is the year

You deserve vision that supports all the things you love in life. Make 2026 the year you actively care for your eyes. If you haven’t booked your comprehensive eye exam yet or if you’re experiencing symptoms like blurred vision, discomfort, or sudden vision changes, we’re here for you.

Proactive care helps catch problems before they affect your vision. This is your year. Call our Biloxi, Mississippi, office now or book online.