Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Uncategorized on February 14, 2024
If you don’t need glasses or contacts, you may not think about visiting an eye doctor. However, there are important reasons to get your eyes checked regularly, even if you feel like your vision is clear.
Your eye doctor can check for changes in your vision, assess the health of your eyes, and give you important information about how to protect your eyes for a lifetime of good vision. Keep reading to learn about five signs that you are due to a visit to the eye doctor!
1. You Can’t Remember When Last Had an Eye Exam
If you aren’t sure when or if you had your eyes checked, you may be due for a routine eye exam. If you’re under the age of sixty-five and don’t have risk factors for eye conditions, you should see an eye doctor at least every two years.
If you wear glasses or you’re at risk for conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration, you should visit the eye doctor once a year.
2. You’ve Noticed Vision Changes
Vision changes, such as squinting to see objects at a distance, needing to hold printed materials at arm’s length to read, or finding the proper distance to see your computer screen, are signs you need to get your vision checked.
If you already wear glasses or contacts, it can be a sign that you need adjustments to your prescription. If you have never worn glasses before, it could be time to start.
Many adults over forty develop vision changes that require reading glasses.
3. Difficulty Seeing at Night
Reduced night vision can be a normal part of aging. It can also be an early symptom of more serious eye conditions such as cataracts or macular degeneration.
If you notice that you don’t see well in low light, you should visit your eye doctor. They can check for any eye conditions and get you on appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
4. Frequent Headaches
If you have frequent headaches, you should get your eyes examined. Headaches may be the result of eye strain.
A prescription for glasses or contacts could be the solution to frequent headaches. Headaches are also signs of more serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma or infection, which require prompt treatment.
Headaches can also be caused by problems with how your eyes work together. These are called binocular vision issues and include binocular vision, including amblyopia or convergence insufficiency.
A prescription for special glasses can help correct these vision problems.
5. Pain or Other Symptoms
If you are noticing any kind of eye pain or unusual symptoms in your eyes, you should see an eye doctor right away. Unusual symptoms include:
- Draining or redness in one or both eyes
- Double vision
- Floaters
- New light sensitivity
- New circles or halos around lights
- Flashes of light
Pain or new, unexplained changes to your vision could be the result of an injury or underlying eye condition. It’s important to see an eye doctor to get treatment and protect your eyes from long-term vision loss.
Do you want to learn more about taking care of your eyes? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!
