Chris Hadfield talks importance of regular eye checkups

(NC) In this interview with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, he talks about his experiences on board the International Space Station and the importance of protecting your vision.

What would you say is your proudest moment of your career?

Chris Hadfield: I was the first Canadian to walk in space. You go into this tiny little airlock where you open up some valves and all the air rushes out. It gets quieter and quieter because there’s nothing to conduct the sound. All you hear is your own breathing.

And then you open the hatch and put yourself out into the universe. That’s a very prideful moment to be one of the very few human beings who has had the opportunity to be out alone in the universe with the gigantic, curving, beautiful, textured, multicoloured nature of the world pouring by next to you.

How has curiosity helped you in your career?

Chris Hadfield: Curiosity is the start of everything. I’m really interested in how things work, why we do things, what success looks like, and how I can become more knowledgeable. The more things you understand, the further into the distance you can see.

Speaking of seeing, what is your perspective on the importance of eye health for quality of life?

Chris Hadfield: Of all the senses that we have – touch, taste and the others – to me, the most important one is sight. As a pilot, I need the ability to see. I’m counting on it for my livelihood.

I’m a big proponent of early detection. I just turned 65, and as you get older, different types of problems may develop within your eyes.

According to the Canadian Council for the Blind, one in five Canadians will eventually develop some sort of eye disease. But three-quarters of all the things that can go wrong with your eyes during your life are not only detectable early on, but also treatable. So why let your eyes go bad if you have a choice?

Why are routine eye exams so important to you?

Chris Hadfield: Imagine what these two eyeballs have seen from onboard a spaceship, to go around the world in 90 minutes to see all those sunrises and sunsets. I really value my vision and of course I need it, but I just recognize what a powerful sense vision is. It is so information rich. And as a pilot, I’m very protective of my eyeballs and I really want to have the ability to see well for as long as I possibly can.

I get my eyes checked every single year and not just, “Hey, can you read the eye chart?” But what is the pressure inside my eye and how are things are changing over time. For people my age, everybody should be thinking about that.

Learn more about the benefits of regular eye exams at specsavers.ca.