Have you “seen” an eye doctor recently? If you haven’t visited your local optometrist or ophthalmologists lately, now might be time to schedule an appointment. Even those of us who have healthy eyes and vision need to get an eye exam as part of preventative care. An optometrist can also prescribe eye glasses or contact lenses for vision problems and certain activities, like reading.
However, there are other reasons to see a doctor besides getting an exam, glasses, and contacts. If you have any kind of vision problems or an eye infection, it is important to get your checkups yearly or as needed. There are several different problems that can arise when it comes to vision. Here are some reasons to visit an eye doctor in your area, even if you think your vision is okay:
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1. If you have any kind of infection: see an ophthalmologist. Your ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat any sort of infection. Some examples of eye infections can include pink eye, wounds, or conditions that can develop into other problems, like cataracts. Because the eyes are so sensitive, you’ll want to clear up an infection as soon as possible.
2. If you have any chronic illnesses that are vision-related: There are several types of conditions that can affect your vision, so it’s important to practice good preventative care. Even if you’re young, you can still be at risk for glaucoma later in life; this condition affects an estimated 2.2 million Americans, according to the Center for Disease Control. The CDC also reports that approximately 61 million U.S. adults are at high risk for vision loss, and only 50% of those individuals have visited an eye care professional in the last year. For this reason, it is imperative to make eye appointments part of your main healthcare.
3. If you have any chronic illness — even if they aren’t vision-related: There are millions of people in the United States with diabetes — and some of them haven’t been diagnosed yet. As a result, this disease can significantly impact your chances for vision impairment. An estimated 11% of diabetics are visually impaired in some way. They are also at risk for cataracts; this is a film over the eye that can affect as many as 20.5 million people in the U.S.
Do you have more questions about what an eye doctor can do for you? Talk to one in your area today. You can leave a comment below if you’d like more information on how these vision problems and conditions can affect your life. Read more about this topic at this link.