Loss of the ability to focus on details happens to most of us. Presbyopia (aging farsightedness) occurs with age, as the natural lens in the eye loses its flexibility. But it is also possible to have hidden vision problems that have started to manifest. It is recommended that you have your eyes examined once a year, but it is still best to ask your ophthalmologist who regularly monitors your eyesight and eyes. If you feel that you rub your eyes too often and too hard, move objects away to see them or bring them closer, it is probably time to visit your ophthalmologist. Here are 5 signs that you need an eye exam:
You have headaches around the eyes
If your eyes are straining to focus, this may give you a headache. Headaches in the front of the head or headaches around the temples may indicate that the current glasses are too weak, or that you need reading glasses. For any headache associated with long reading; computer viewing or is accompanied by difficulty concentrating, see your eye doctor. Ocular migraines, for example, create an aura or zigzag colored spots or small shiny spots in your vision that move from the central field of view to the periphery and blink. Most auras may last for 20 minutes before the headache starts. A headache accompanied by blurred vision in one or both eyes can be a sign of serious eye conditions such as glaucoma (elevated intraocular pressure) or optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve) and must be diagnosed and treated immediately.
You stare (squeezing your eyes to see) and still not focus
Changes in vision can mean different things. For a child, difficulty reading the board often indicates that myopia is beginning to develop. For an adult, having difficulty seeing street signs can be a sign that a new prescription for prescription glasses needs to be prescribed or that there is a change in eye health. Whenever you notice that your vision has changed, it is important to have a check-up to make sure your eyes are healthy. It may not be anything serious or dangerous, but we will find out only with an ophthalmological examination.
Your eyes are dry
The changes that occur with age, of course, also affect the eyes. One of the most often overlooked or neglected changes are those in the tear film that serves to moisturize and protect the eyes from external influences. Dry eyes can be the result of a lack of tears or a change in the composition of the tears. It manifests itself from a feeling of a foreign body in the eyes, sand, sometimes stabbing pain, blurred vision, to reflex paradoxical tearing. Existence of diopter that is not regulated by an eye device (glasses, contact lenses) is a problem that creates difficulties in performing daily activities but does not damage the eyes. Redness or discharge from the eyes, any kind of pain or sudden loss of vision – should be diagnosed and treated immediately.
Hard to see at night
If it is harder than usual to see street signs at night, this may mean that your farsightedness is getting worse in the dark. If your eyes become irritated when approaching car headlights or you are disturbed by white light from a computer screen, blue light goggles with a blue filter can help. If the discomfort from the flashes persists even with special glasses, it may indicate cataracts – especially in patients older than 50 years. When cataracts begin to affect quality of life, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the natural blurred lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens, which in turn will replace your glasses.
You cannot remember your last visit to the eye doctor
Opinions of ophthalmologists around the world are often different in terms of continuity, i.e. how often you should have eye exams. Your ophthalmologist will tell you the best about it according to your condition. Going for an eye exam does not always mean that you have to widen your pupils, but it is the only way to check the background (retina) to make sure your eyes are healthy and without problems. There are some exceptions, however. Doctors agree that children should be screened every year and the same is true for people who have already been diagnosed with an eye disease or a systemic disease that affects their vision (such as diabetes). We recommend that you have an eye exam at least once a year, whether you have an eye problem or not. Regular checkups are a safeguard, as there are some eye diseases that occur without a change in vision and without pain.