When to Go for an Eye Examination
Experts recommend going for an eye exam every two years. The need for an eye examination is also high for people who are above 60 years. Additionally, if you're suffering from glaucoma, diabetes, or any other conditions that affect the eyes, you need to visit an optometrist frequently. The following are other tell-tale signs you need to go for an eye exam.
Headaches Around Your Eyes
If you have difficulty focusing, you'll probably experience intense headaches. Headaches around the temple or the frontal section of your head are an indication you need reading glasses or the lenses on your glasses are strong. If you're above 40 years, you should consider eyeglasses to help your eyes focus.
Some types of headaches produce shiny or zigzag spots in your vision. These ocular migraines may not be severe, but they need to be checked. A headache followed by blurred vision may mean you have optic neuritis. This means you have a swollen optic nerve and should consult an eye doctor immediately.
Night Blindness
Another common sign you need an eye exam is poor night vision. If you see properly under normal lighting but have difficulty seeing in dim lighting or at night, you have a problem. It's likely you're suffering from night blindness.
Night blindness is common in older adults and is a symptom associated with cataracts. When you have severe cataracts, your eye doctor may recommend surgery to replace the faulty lens with an intraocular lens. This treatment is an alternative to an eyeglass prescription.
Red and Swollen Eyes
One of the signs of pink eyes is red and puffy eyes. Additionally, your eyes will itch, and you'll have sensitivity to light. Some people even have a crusty discharge.
These symptoms can be associated with a bacterial or viral infection. While there's no cure for an allergic or viral pink eye, your optometrist might prescribe antibiotics if it's a bacterial infection. Usually, these conditions disappear without treatment. However, you should go for an eye examination to rule out any underlying causes.
Flashes or Obstructed Vision
If you have flashes of light or floaters in your vision, there's cause for alarm. Small specks moving in your vision are called floaters. They look like they're part of what you're looking at, but they're actually floating inside your eye.
These are signs of a serious eye condition like a retinal detachment. With this condition, your retina is pulled away from the wall of your eye. Retinal detachment can lead to blindness or permanent vision loss if not treated.
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