It is essential to visit an optometrist regularly for comprehensive eye exams. If you are still determining when to schedule an appointment, check this list of five signs that it is time for a visit.
Having healthy eyesight is vital to our overall health. Whether you need to see an optometrist for yourself or a loved one, it is essential to choose the right doctor.
Blurred Vision
Refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, are a common cause of blurry vision. These conditions can often be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. If your blurry vision results from these common conditions and has developed slowly over time, you may only need to update your prescription.
However, blurred vision that appears suddenly or is confined to one eye can indicate more severe eye issues. Inflammation in the medium and large blood vessels around the eyes, such as temporal or giant cell arteritis, can cause a throbbing headache with blurred vision. Diabetes can lead to eye complications such as a detached retina.
If any other symptoms accompany your blurred vision, schedule an appointment with an experienced optometrist as soon as possible. Early detection of various eye conditions can help prevent or mitigate their symptoms, including glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Difficulty Reading
As a society, we take reading for granted. However, difficulty reading can indicate a vision-related issue like dyslexia. This acquired learning disorder affects the ability to relate speech sounds to letters and words (decoding).
This problem manifests as a need for help to read quickly and accurately. It also affects spelling and often leads to a lack of fluency.
If a child avoids reading assignments, it is crucial to recognize the warning signs. It is the first step in getting them the help they need before frustration and plummeting self-esteem turn them off reading altogether. Other red flags include failing to remember letter sounds, a tendency to skip small words or misread frequently used words, and needing help finding the right word on a page.
Frequent Headaches
Headaches are often a sign of underlying health problems that require attention. They are also usually caused by stress, poor sleep habits, jaw problems, and medications.
If you are experiencing frequent headaches, making an eye doctor appointment is a good idea to ensure no underlying issues need to be addressed. Your eye doctor may want to do a few diagnostic tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of your brain, to help identify any potential health problems that might be causing your headaches.
Many times, headaches are a symptom of a medical condition, such as a spinal migraine, and can be caused by leaking fluid around the nerves in your skull. If your headaches are accompanied by vision changes, flashing lights, or zigzag patterns, you must immediately visit an eye care specialist.
Farsightedness
Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, is a common condition that causes people to have a more challenging time seeing things up close. It is caused by either a flat cornea or an eyeball that is too short, leading to blurry vision and headaches.
The most effective way to diagnose farsightedness is through a comprehensive eye exam, which includes dilating drops. It allows the provider to see deeper into your eye, including your retina.
It is recommended to have an eye test every 1 to 3 years if you are healthy and more frequently if you have health problems or a family history of eye disease. If you are over 40, your doctor may suggest that you get tested every 2 to 4 years. When it comes to vision correction, you have various options. Eyeglasses and contact lenses are two practical solutions that can help improve your eyesight and enhance your visual experience.
Changes in Eye Appearance
When you notice changes in your eye appearance, it is time for a check-up. While this can be a regular part of the aging process, it is also an indicator of more severe problems, such as a retinal tear or detachment.
Seeing double, or what optometrists call “wavy vision,” is another sign that you should make an eye appointment immediately. This symptom is often accompanied by blurry vision and could indicate macular degeneration, possibly leading to permanent blindness if not treated.
Lastly, if you start to notice that your eyes are more red than usual, it is essential not to ignore this symptom. Red eyes are a common symptom of many conditions and can indicate an infection or cancer.
