Signs You Need to Schedule an Eye Exam
Having a regular, comprehensive eye examination is important to monitoring your ocular health. It enables your eye doctor to identify any serious problems or diseases in their early stages, when they are more easily treated with less invasive means.
Most people under the age of 40 with no symptoms and good vision should have an exam at least every two to four years. Between the ages of 40 and 55, exams should be done every one to two years, and those over the age of 55 should definitely plan on an annual eye exam. These general guidelines apply when you have no symptoms, no systemic diseases that can affect the eyes (such as diabetes) and no relevant family history. (For example, if you have a parent or sibling with glaucoma, you should be checked annually starting at age 50. If you are diabetic, an annual exam is a must.)
Sometimes your vision can change quite a bit in between exams, and it becomes prudent to put another appointment on the calendar.
Read on as the team at Intracoastal Eye describes some signs that suggest you should visit our doctors, Gregory Johnson, M.D., and Gail Kelley, O.D., for an eye exam.
You find yourself holding books or newspapers further away from your face.
Holding reading material further away from the face is one of the common indicators of presbyopia, or the age-related loss of near vision. Presbyopia tends to set in around the age of 40 and can make it difficult to read a menu or send a text. If you notice that you have trouble reading fine print up close, you should see our team to get screened for presbyopia and discuss treatment options.
Your vision makes it difficult to drive at night.
If you find it difficult to see other cars or read road signs, or you see distracting glare or halos with headlights from oncoming cars, you could be experiencing the first signs of cataracts. Cataracts should be monitored closely by an eye doctor to prevent vision loss.
You have been diagnosed with a medical condition that could affect your eyes.
Conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease can cause changes in your body that affect your ocular health and interfere with vision. It is best to discuss your diagnosis with our team so we can determine whether your eyes have been affected.
Something is obstructing your vision.
If you frequently see spots, floaters, flashes of light or other visual disruptions — particularly if the disturbances come on suddenly — you should schedule an exam. Sometimes these disruptions can indicate a serious threat to your vision (i.e., retinal detachment); if not, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing they are harmless.
You experience frequent eye fatigue.
Spending long periods of time using computers and other digital devices can tire your eyes out. But if your eyes are tired, burning or just uncomfortable at least one or two days every week, you should see our team to get checked out.
Schedule an Exam Today
Dr. Johnson, Dr. Kelley and the rest of the team at Intracoastal Eye care deeply about your ocular health and vision. To schedule your next eye exam at our practice, we invite you to call or send us an email today.