It’s easy to take our vision for granted because most of us don’t give it much thought. We’re usually so concerned with other things that we don’t take the time to appreciate its worth. Some don’t realise its significance until they are put in trying situations that involve its use. It’s also a common misconception that vision care is only necessary when problems arise. Most people are unaware of the fact that a visit to the optometrist is recommended at least once every two years.
Regular check-ups aside, when is it ideal to visit my optometrist?
In addition to regular check-ups, a visit to the optometrist is necessary when a patient begins to exhibit signs of vision loss. In this case, primary care is first provided by an optometrist. When special vision care is needed, a patient will be referred to an ophthalmologist for further care. It’s important to remember that an ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician are three different people. Ophthalmologists provide specialised care and also do surgery. Opticians on the other hand, focus on the prescription of graded eyeglasses.
Most problems regarding vision can be treated by a primary care physician such as an optometrist. When a patient experiences one or more of the following, it’s time to seek the help of an eye doctor:
– Unclear eyesight
– Difficulty seeing into the distance or reading up close
– Difficulty seeing at night or experiencing glares during the daytime
Along with these, some patients also experience several symptoms that can be linked to different eye problems. These symptoms can include frequent headaches when reading print or looking at a computer, double vision, and general poor eyesight.
What are the common eye health conditions and solutions I might encounter?
The problems and symptoms discussed earlier may be tell-tale signs of one of the following eye conditions:
Myopia – This is a condition that makes distant objects look blurry, and near items look clear. It is also known as short or near-sightedness. It’s a common condition found in people of all ages. For children, the easiest way to determine this problem is by judging their ability to look at the blackboard from the back of a classroom. Opticians prescribe eyeglasses with concave lenses for these cases.
Hyperopia – This condition is the opposite of myopia and is otherwise known as long or far-sightedness. Most patients with this condition also report eye fatigue and frequent headaches. As with myopia, mild cases don’t necessarily call for corrective lenses, but an optician may prescribe them if needed.
Astigmatism – In most cases, this isn’t considered as an eye disease. Rather, patients diagnosed with this condition have differently shaped corneas hindering them from seeing properly. Corrective eyeware with cylindrical lenses are prescribed for these instances.
Presbyopia – The last of the four most common eye conditions deals mostly with old age. As we grow older, the muscles that help our eyes focus degenerate. This condition is corrected with the use of convex lenses.
Regular vision care is recommended to address these problems before they worsen. Remember that healthy eyesight contributes to living a fuller and happier life.
