Why routine eye exams are important, even if you don’t wear glasses
If you are fortunate enough to have good or even great vision, keeping up with eye exams may slip off your radar.
However, getting new glasses or contacts is not the only reason you should visit your eye doctor. During a complete eye exam, your doctor will check not only your vision, but the health of your eyes. Eye doctors have special training to screen for common eye problems that may or may not affect your vision until it is too late.
Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve that can lead to vision loss and blindness. The most common causes include increased pressure inside the eye and aging, but it can affect people at any age. People with early stages of glaucoma may not notice any symptoms – not even issues with their eyesight. This is why it’s so important to get regular eye exams to ensure that glaucoma is detected and treated.
Cataracts are progressive clouding of the lens of the eye. Symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, seeing double, light sensitivity, and colors appearing faded or dull. The most common cause of cataracts is aging, but your risk increases if you have a family history, spend a lot of time in the sun without UV eye protection, have had an eye injury, live with diabetes and other medical conditions, take certain medications, or smoke.
Diabetic retinopathy is when the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (the retina) are damaged due to diabetes. At first, there are no or only very mild symptoms, but as the condition worsens, you may experience worsening vision, dark or floating spots (floaters) in your vision and eventually, vision loss and blindness. The risk of developing this condition is higher for those who have had diabetes for a long time and those with poorly-controlled diabetes.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is when aging causes damage to the macula, which is the part of the eye that allows you to see clearly when looking straight ahead (central vision). AMD is the most common cause of vision loss in older adults, but it does not usually lead to complete blindness. Early on, there are often no symptoms. As it progresses, it can be difficult to see details clearly, such as faces and text in books. It can also be challenging to drive or to complete daily activities where straight-ahead and close-up vision are used.
Dry Eye Disease occurs when eyes do not produce enough tears, do not produce the right type of tears, or tears dry too quickly. Symptoms include burning, itching, red eyes, feeling something is in your eye, blurry vision and watery eyes. If untreated, dry eye can lead to pain and vision loss. Many medical conditions can result in dry eyes, so it is important to detect it so that the underlying cause can be identified.
Eye health issues can occur at any age, and they may be painless and hard to notice until they are advanced. Regular eye exams are an important way to keep your vision and eyes healthy throughout your lifetime.
This information in this post is for general educational purposes only and does not warrant or represent any information as related to health as specifically appropriate for you. It is not intended to be medical advice or replace the relationship that you have with your health care providers. You should always seek medical advice on any diagnosis or treatment from a qualified health care provider. The information is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
