A Closer Look at Eye Health

From working on a computer to driving and spending time with loved ones, your eyes work hard every day. But because vision changes often happen gradually, it's easy to miss the early signs of an eye problem.

That's why routine eye exams are about more than updating your glasses or contact lens prescription. They're one of the best ways to protect your vision and detect eye diseases early, often before you notice symptoms yourself.

Here are a few simple ways to help protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy at every stage of life.

The Importance of Routine Eye Exams

If you have good vision and no eye health concerns, you might assume you don't need to see an optometrist regularly. But comprehensive eye exams do much more than determine whether you need glasses. They also allow your eye care provider to evaluate the overall health of your eyes and detect conditions that often develop without noticeable symptoms.

Routine eye care can include:

• Monitoring for dry eye disease  
• Screening for glaucoma  
• Evaluation for age-related macular degeneration  
• Diabetic eye exams  
• Retinal health evaluations

Who Benefits from Regular Eye Care?  

The short answer? Everyone.

Routine eye exams are important for people of all ages, but some individuals have a higher risk of developing eye conditions than others.

You may want to see your eye doctor more frequently if you:

• Have diabetes  
• Have high blood pressure  
• Have a family history of glaucoma or other eye diseases  
• Spend many hours each day using digital devices  
• Are over age 60  
• Wear contact lenses  
• Have had previous eye injuries or surgery

Signs It’s Time to Schedule an Appointment

Routine eye exams are important even if you're not experiencing vision problems. But if you notice changes in your vision or eye comfort, don't ignore them.

It may be time to call your eye doctor if you have:

• Blurry vision, whether up close or far away  
• Vision that seems to be changing over time  
• Difficulty seeing at night or increased sensitivity to glare  
• Red, irritated, itchy, burning or watery eyes  
• Frequent headaches or eye strain  
• Eye fatigue after using computers, phones or other digital devices  
• Symptoms of eye allergies  
• Pink eye, styes or eyelid irritation

Everyday Habits That Help Protect Your Eyes

Seeing an optometrist regularly is important, but healthy daily habits also play a role in protecting your vision.

• Give your eyes a break from screens. Extended screen time can lead to digital eye strain. Consider following the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Adjusting screen brightness, reducing glare and remembering to blink frequently can also help reduce discomfort.  
• Wear the right protection. Sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays help protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet light. Safety glasses should be worn during home improvement projects, yard work and sports where eye injuries are possible.  
• Support eye health through nutrition. A balanced diet rich in leafy greens, colorful fruits and vegetables, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrient-dense foods may help support overall eye health.  
• Manage chronic health conditions. Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can affect the small blood vessels in the eyes. Keeping these conditions well managed benefits both your overall health and your vision.

Looking Ahead

Your vision plays a role in almost everything you do. Whether it's time for a routine eye exam, a new pair of glasses or an evaluation for a new concern, taking care of your eyes today can help protect your vision for years to come.

To schedule your eye exam, see our Optometry location.