About 93 million Americans are at high risk of major vision loss. Despite this, barely half of them scheduled an eye exam in the last year.
Your life and health depend greatly on your eyesight. Taking it for granted might result in both minor and severe eye issues. Declining eyesight may worsen and become more challenging to treat if ignored for too long. Therefore, if you haven't visited an eye doctor for a while, now may be an ideal time to do so.
Here are the top four warning signs that it's time to schedule an eye exam and have your vision checked.
Your vision is getting blurry
Your vision suddenly becoming blurred is the first clear indication that you need to visit an eye doctor. Blurriness may be a sign of nearsightedness, farsightedness, irritability, surface eye injury, or excessive screen time. Getting evaluated by a professional is essential to discover the precise culprit behind your symptoms. Make an appointment right away if the blurred vision doesn't disappear on its own.
It’s difficult for you to read up close
You should make an appointment for an eye checkup if you struggle to see close-up text in the newspaper, books, or on your phone. Your vision may occasionally become hazy because your eyes are tired from staring at a screen all day.
However, if this does not resolve within a day, it could be the beginning of presbyopia. It is usual for the eye to gradually lose its ability to focus on objects in front of it as this condition progresses. Your doctor will prescribe seeing aids to help you see well again.
If you're young yet nevertheless have trouble seeing up close, schedule an eye check right away. The key to avoiding future, more serious eye problems is early detection. The same goes for your children. If you notice them having trouble reading their assignments or textbooks, it's time to have their eyesight checked.
Trouble seeing that interferes with your normal routine
If you find yourself tripping over objects during daily activities, are unable to read what's written on your tv, or having difficulty working without squinting or making mistakes, scheduling an appointment with an eye doctor for an evaluation should be your first priority.
This is especially important if you work with machinery or routinely handle big or sharp objects. Why risk being injured at home or at work by failing to get checked?
If your vision is interfering with your daily activities, it's time for a checkup. Your eye doctor will examine you thoroughly and recommend a proper course to regain your eyesight. Some of the ways to return your normal vision may include glasses, eye drops, or medication.
You constantly have pressure behind the eyes
It is a clear indication that something is wrong with your eye health if you experience pressure in your eyeballs or behind your eyes. Increased ocular pressure can point to glaucoma, hypertension, and eye damage, among other medical conditions.
It is possible to develop extremely unpleasant, even painful, eye pressure. Extreme symptoms may include nausea, cluster headaches, throbbing eye pain, and impaired vision.
After pinpointing the root cause of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe you eye drops or another type of medication. If your lifestyle is the source of your eye pressure, your doctor may suggest you make specific dietary and lifestyle changes to help relieve and reduce it.
The bottom line
Have you gotten your eyes checked in the last several years? If not, you probably need to. Even if your eyes seem fine, you should still schedule an examination.
When choosing a vision specialist, choose a doctor and medical personnel who will make you feel comfortable and at ease. Because the eyes are such delicate organs, you should feel comfortable and well-cared for when you visit an eye doctor.
