Common Signs That Tell You to Get an Eye Exam
When was the last time you got your eyes checked? Maybe it’s been a year or two years or maybe you’ve never had one.
It is not a surprise that we all tend to take our eyes for granted. We fail to identify the eye problems and only take actions when it is too late. However, you can always start taking special care of your eye health to restore your vision if not necessarily improve it.
You don’t have to go above and beyond to look after your vision. Eye health care is as simple as it gets. All you have to do is eat healthy, take regular screen breaks, wear protective eyewear and have regular eye tests.
Vision problems have no signs at first and become noticeable when they get worse. Even when you think that your vision is doing just fine and you don’t need an eye test, some serious eye problem might be there.
Figuring out when you need an eye exam is no mystery. The following signs will let you know that it is time to visit your eye doctor. If you already have a vision problem and wear prescription glasses, it is mandatory for you to have an eye test every 6 months.
Blurry Vision
If the poster on your bedroom wall has suddenly become blurry or you are finding it hard to read the small prints on your book, you might have nearsightedness or farsightedness. Or if your vision is poor at both near and far distances, it could be due to astigmatism – a common eye problem caused due to the unusual eye’s curvature.
You need to see an optometrist about your specific eye problem. They will test your vision and recommend corrective glasses. However, if you are 40 something and having trouble with near vision, it could be presbyopia which is common in people of your age. All you need is good-quality reading glasses to make sense of those small prints.
Eye Strain
If you have been experiencing persistent eye pain or fatigue, this could also signal towards a potential vision problem.
Although your eyes may feel worn out due to cold, allergies or flu, they usually disappear within a few days. However, if the symptoms persist longer than normal or your eyes get tired from reading or watching television, get your eyes checked.
Digital Consumption
If you give more than 6 hours of your day to digital devices, it is safe to assume that you pass for an eye exam. Our eyes are sensitive to the high-energy blue light emitted from our computer or smartphone screens.
When this light penetrates our eyes, we develop symptoms of digital eye strain – headaches, blurry vision, dry eyes and eye strain. If you use blue light glasses when using a digital screen, you can reduce these symptoms significantly. You don’t require a prescription to buy these glasses.
However, if you don’t use protective eyewear, you must get an eye exam to identify the extent of visual damage and know if you need any corrective eyewear.
Low Night Vision
If your vision is perfect, you are able to see (though vaguely) in low light conditions. However, if you almost turn blind in low light environments, you need to see an eye doctor. You might have night blindness that can be resulted from cataract, cloudy vision, nearsightedness and retinitis pigmentosa.
Getting an eye test will bring out the true cause of this problem. Based on your medical history and current symptoms, your eye doctor will recommend corrective eyeglasses to see clearly in day and night.
Frequent Headaches
Headaches are the most common condition that people experience in their day-to-day lives. However, this common condition can be an early sign of an upcoming eye problem. When our eyes lose focus, the muscles our eyes work extra hard to focus that triggers eye strain and headaches.
If you have been putting up with constant headaches, it could be due to farsightedness or astigmatism. Book an appointment with your optometrist or ophthalmologist to know your specific refractive error. If your vision is low at both near and distant focal points, your doctor will most probably recommend varifocal glasses. However, if your vision is bad at only one length, you will be prescribed single vision glasses.
The Takeaway
Eye problems are hard to notice. They slowly sneak up on you and before you know, your vision is damaged for life. It is important to get regular eye exams to make sure that a major eye problem is not awaiting you in the future. Don’t take your eyes for granted. Keep an eye out for these symptoms and contact an eye doctor when you spot changes in your vision.