Yearly appointments with an eye doctor can help you protect your vision and eye health. In some cases, you may need more than one eye exam in a year.
Here are five signs you need to see an eye doctor sooner rather than later:
1. Your Eyes Hurt
Eye pain isn’t something that should be endured or ignored. The cause could be as simple as dry eye, which your eye doctor can treat with drops. However, your discomfort may be due to other factors such as an injury or a scratched cornea. A condition such as glaucoma can cause eye pain, and the earlier it’s treated, the better.
2. You Do Not See Clearly Through Your Current Prescription
If you have a current eyewear prescription but are not seeing clearly, see colors as muted, or see objects as having a yellow cast, you should see an eye doctor. These symptoms could be signs that you have cataracts. This condition is caused by protein deposits clouding the lens of your eye. When this happens, your ophthalmologist can remove the clouded lens and replace it with a new one. This type of surgery will enable you to see clearly and improve your color perception.
3. Your Eyes Are Itchy and Watery
Eyes that are itchy and watery may be a part of your body’s response to allergy-causing substances. Your ophthalmologist can suggest over-the-counter eye medications and eye drops that may help. In more severe cases, they can prescribe medication. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, can also cause itchy eyes. It is a very contagious condition that can be treated with prescription eye drops.
4. You Have Trouble Seeing at Night or While Driving
Deteriorating night vision is a sign that your vision is worsening. A visit to the ophthalmologist will let you know whether you need a new eyewear prescription or may have a more serious problem like a cataract that’s starting to form.
5. You’re at Higher Risk for Eye Problems
Everyone needs regular eye care, but some people need to take particular care with their vision. If you fall into one or more of the following categories, you need to see an ophthalmologist more frequently:
- You have diabetes. This chronic disease can damage the retina or lead to glaucoma or cataracts.
- You are African American or Mexican American. This puts you at higher risk of having conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that can increase your risk of having serious vision problems.
- Your job is visually demanding. For example, you may use a computer throughout the workday.
- You have a family history of eye diseases. Certain diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts can be hereditary.
Reach Out to Your Eye Doctor Today!
Contact Atlantic Eye Consultants in Virginia Beach today if you have questions about your vision needs or want to schedule a routine eye care appointment. We are dedicated to correcting your eyesight by using the latest technologies, techniques, and standards.