Angela Pearson (right), an eye technician at U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks (USAHC-SB) Optometry Clinic in Hawaii, performs testing on a beneficiary, Lt. Col. Kieu Wolford (left) on March 2, 2016. This testing measures the amount of fluid...

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii, (Mar. 25, 2016) -- Soldiers are expected to stay "mission ready". This means eating healthy foods, getting the proper amount of rest, staying current on your immunizations and ensuring your annual physical is done on time.

Although maintaining eye health is a vital component of overall health, for some soldiers, it isn't at the forefront of the mind. Vision may be viewed as just another required annual checkup. But, knowing how and why we should get these eye exams may prove to be quite valuable to a soldier's career.

All across America, millions of men and women experience vision loss or are affected by low vision or blindness. Conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, and hypertension, if left untreated, are just a few of the conditions that can lead to visual impairment and require more frequent examinations.

By getting regular eye examinations, Americans can take advantage of medical breakthroughs that allow early detection and treatment of vision loss and disease. Doctors also recommend maintaining a healthy diet, not smoking, and wearing sunglasses or suitable eye protection when playing sports or performing yard work.

The American Optometric Association recommends adults age 65 and younger have an eye exam every two years and then annually thereafter. Based on an individual's eye health, the eye doctor may recommend more frequent visits.

The Tripler Army Medical Center and Schofield Barracks Optometry Clinics are here to serve you and provide comprehensive eye examinations for all active duty soldiers. The clinics also provide comprehensive eye exams for beneficiaries on a limited basis.

To schedule your Optometry appointment, contact the appointment line at (808) 433-2778 then select extensions 3, 6, 2, 1 or schedule your appointment on Tricare Online at https://www.tricareonline.com/.

(Editor's note: Lt. Col. Christine Watson is Chief of Optometry Services at U.S. Army Health Clinic-Schofield Barracks and Tripler Army Medical Center.)