Christine Webb, Your Health and Fitness

This month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is launching a campaign to raise awareness of eye disease.

News 13's Christine Webb explains why even if you have no risk factors for eye disease, you could still experience vision loss.

The latest research shows that even people with no signs or risk factors for eye disease can suffer vision loss and need to get baseline eye exams at age 40.

Doctors say many eye diseases progress without any warning signs, and those gradual changes in vision can affect your ability to function independently and have confidence in your abilities.

People who have symptoms of eye disease or at high risk because of a family history, diabetes or high blood pressure, should consult with their ophthalmologist to determine how often they should have their eyes checked.

By the year 2020, 43 million Americans will be at significant risk for vision loss or blindness because of age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

That is more than half of the current number of Americans with such vision-threatening diseases.

To see more Health and Fitness stories, go to News 13 On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 313.

Click here to comment on this story.