Your eyes are essential, and if you don’t look after your eyes, you risk losing your sight permanently or causing irreparable damage.
Knowledge is vital, and if you know what is and isn’t normal for you and what you most definitely need to visit your eye doctor for, you can reduce the risk of any severe damage to your eyes.
Regular appointments with an optometrist near me can help keep you abreast of any changes in your eye health and address any concerns quickly. However, some complications can arise between appointments, or accidents can affect your sight.
How to know when to visit an optometrist.
Frequent Headaches
If you have frequent headaches, it can be an indication that you need your eyes checked. If your eyes are compensating for sight issues, they will be working harder, thus causing strain thus resulting in headaches.
Typically, you will have other symptoms alongside headaches to indicate an eye problem, such as struggling to see close up or distances or disrupted vision in one or both eyes.
Holding Items At a Distance
As we get older, eyesight naturally changes, and these changes depend on your current vision. If you notice, though, regardless of your age, that you have to hold items at a distance or close up to your face, you most likely need to get your checked and start wearing prescription glasses.
Sore Eyes
Suppose your eyes are sore, red, itchy, or experiencing pain. In that case, it is a significant indicator that you need to see an optician to identify the cause of your problems and help you clear up any issues you might be having.
It can be a case of a course of antibiotics to clear up an infection or remove a foreign object that might be irritating.
Flashes of Light or Floaters
Do not be alarmed if you observe flashes of light or small dark dots or lines in your vision from time to time. It is usually not severe and is extremely common. If they aren’t becoming worse and aren’t interfering with your eyesight, they aren’t a symptom of something more serious.
If floaters or flashes appear unexpectedly or increase in number, there may be an issue with your eye, and you should see your eye care specialist. If it causes you any discomfort, you should see your optometrist.
Difficulty Seeing at Night or Driving
Night driving is the strongest indicator of when your eyesight begins to deteriorate. This is because everyone has a more difficult time seeing things in the dark or the distance—so if your eyes are already struggling, it will become more evident in these settings. The cure could be as simple as a new glasses prescription, or it could be an indication of something more serious, such as the formation of a cataract. An ophthalmologist can evaluate your night vision and recommend the best course of action.
If you are worried about your eyesight or your eye health in general, then don’t wait for your regular appointment; make an appointment immediately to get the cause of the problem rectified.