When I was a little girl, I always knew something was wrong with me. I could never properly see the chalkboard, my dad would always wonder aloud why I couldn’t see what he could (he has better-than-perfect vision), and I would much rather read books close to my face than bike outdoors where things always appeared so blurry when not up close. I don’t know how I managed to get so far in elementary school without them, but I wasn’t diagnosed with nearsightedness and given my first pair of glasses until I was in the fifth grade.

Today doctors recommend getting glasses as soon as a vision problem is detected. My daughter has worn glasses since before her first birthday, which is hard to imagine for many parents—but doing so has already improved her vision so much that her vision is at least legal for driving now (when it was far out of the ballpark to begin with). They can wrap the ends of the glasses around the kiddo’s ears, as well as provide a stretchy band to keep them in place, if needed.

February is Low Vision Awareness Month, so why not take the time today and schedule an appointment with your optometrist. Don’t have one? They can easily be found in the yellow pages—or just hit one of the many Clarkson Eye Care Centers or other national vision specialists that can be found around the country. Did you know that eye exams can also help diagnose other ailments, like diabetes? Regular exams can also help prolong the health of your eyes by continually monitoring them and providing up-to-date care and correction for any problems you may have. Plus, it’ll just feel good to get your new glasses (if needed), contact lenses, or simply the appointment itself checked off so early in the year.

If you are worried about not being able to afford glasses, many programs, such as Eye Care America, are available to assist you. My first pair of glasses as a child was given to me through such a program. First, be sure to check with your insurance to see if you have coverage. If you don’t, search for programs that offer eye care assistance, such as Vision USA.

Last but not least, be sure to take good care of your eyes. Get plenty of sleep, wear protective goggles when needed (in construction, going to racecar events, etc.), eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, switch out your contact lenses regularly, wear protective lenses in the sunlight, and limit your computer time as much as you can.