Having a regular check-up is important to understand how your health has been. There are many reminders about getting to the dentist and the doctor to touch base on how your well-being is doing. However, there are some factors about your health that completely goes amiss.
Eye health is often neglected or just forgotten. However, vision is something that almost every person uses throughout their life. It’s important to have regular eye check-ups done, especially if you may need a new vision prescription. Preventative care can also be discussed after an eye exam.
Keep reading these clarifications to understand how your eye exams should be scheduled.
How Often Must Your Regular Eye Exam Be?
Eye exams can vary for people of different age groups. Youth who may have clearer vision are recommended to get a regular eye exam before any big events, like before they start school or take summer lessons. Generally, it’s recommended to schedule an eye exam every two years to take care of any potential vision problems right away.
For those who may have an existing vision disease or prescription, it may be ideal to have the appointments more frequently. Instead of waiting for two years until the next one, it’s better to check every year at a minimum. That way, any adjustments for your glasses or contact lens can be made. Timeframes may vary per case.
What Factors Increase the Risk of Eye Diseases?
There are several things that can increase the chances of eye diseases. For example, those with glaucoma may have inherited the disease from someone in the family. Genetics plays a big part in the eye health of a person, but the diseases that a patient may have also affected it. If you have diabetes or hypertension, experiencing eye discomfort or infections is possible.
Certain habits can also contribute to your likeliness of getting eye diseases. For example, smoking has been linked to glaucoma in the past already. Tanning and any other hobbies that would require you to undergo intense exposure under the sun and its UV rays can affect your eyesight as well.
When Should You Schedule an Eye Exam?
As mentioned above, it’s best to schedule a regular eye exam at least every year unless your optical care provider says otherwise. There may be cases where you might need an emergency eye exam though, so be sure to be aware of those indicators to save your eye health. Here are some signs that you need an immediate eye exam.
- When You Become Sensitive to Light. When opening your phone or the television, it isn’t always normal to wince at the screen brightness. It may be time to have your eyes checked when you have a long and adverse reaction to light.
- When Your Vision Becomes Blurry. Blurry vision is a common telltale sign of bad or worsening eyesight. Don’t force yourself to get through the day without seeing clearly and just head to the clinic.
- When You Get Daily Headaches. Eye strain can often lead to frequent or even daily headaches. If you find yourself squinting too often, it’s time to schedule a check-up rather than wait for a regular appointment.
- When You Experience Sudden Flashes. Sudden flashes of white or even the appearance of floaters entail retinal detachment. Schedule an appointment to check and mitigate the effects.
Conclusion
To sum it up, get a regular eye exam at least once every year or two years. If you have any eye diseases, be sure to coordinate with an eye doctor about how often you should undergo examinations and what potential treatments you should take.
Need to take an eye exam in Toronto? Caprice Optical has great testing technologies, providing the highest standard of optical care and services with an excellent selection of frames and lenses. Contact us now!
