5 signs it's time for an Eye Exam

Booking an eye exam probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list. But, it should be! The health of your eyes is every bit as important as your skin, your teeth and the rest of your body. As we grow older, our eyes suffer damage, and wear down. It often happens very gradually, and you may not even notice it. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re squinting and squeezing your eyes to see the TV! If that sounds familiar, it’s time to book your next eye appointment and get things checked out. Nowadays, it’s no big deal either. You can discreetly wear contact lenses and no-one will ever know. On the other hand, you can make a super-cool pair of glasses work for you. If you haven’t had one in a while, here are the major signs you need an eye exam.

You’re straining or squinting - Often we find ourselves squinting to see things in the near distance. You may even have passed this off as normal behaviour. But don’t; it means your eyes aren’t functioning as they should. You’re trying to limit the amount of light into your eye in order to focus correctly. Next time you catch yourself doing it, book an eye exam!

You get headaches - Headaches are often linked to poor eyesight. As your vision changes, your brain has to work harder to make sense of the images. The strain puts additional pressure on your mind and presents itself as a headache. If you’ve been suffering from more headaches recently, it could be a sure sign of vision problems. 

Eye fatigue - Do you ever get that feeling of heavy eyes? You wake up in the morning, and your eyes feel tired and exhausted. If you do, it means they’re working too hard. They’re straining to see simple things, and you’re suffering the pain for it! Keep going and it’s going to have an effect on your overall energy levels and health. 

Your everyday lifestyle wears down your eyes - There are certain things we do every day that are bad for our eyes. From staring at computer screens to reading to smoking, it all wears our eyes down. It causes them to work harder and puts additional strain on the cells and muscles. As they’re such simple, everyday things, you won’t notice the damage. Only when you get an eye exam will you appreciate the problem.

You haven’t had one in a while - Experts suggest you should take a test every two years. It’s easier and cheaper than you think too. For example, the average eye exam cost without insurance can be as little as $30. Budget solutions are out there if you look for them and you’ll thank yourself. So, if you haven’t had one in the last 24 months, schedule an appointment now. 

If you’ve read anything in this post that you can relate to, you need to see a specialist. Ignoring eye problems will only exacerbate the problem, and lead to further vision loss. Take care of your eyes, they are special!