Last week we discussed with our readers about how important it is to show up to your eye exams, just the way you would to a date with someone you’re kind of obsessed with. Today we will discuss four more signs you should get your eyes checked, making up our eight reasons to stress the importance of eye exams.
Eye pain
Possible causes include dry eye, an inflammatory condition like iritis an inflammation of the colored part of your eye, which can happen due to something like an injury, a corneal abrasion, an infection, or a bit of matter actually being lodged in your eyeball.
Pink or red eyes
If you constantly have red eyes after staying up too late, the root of your problem is pretty obvious. Otherwise, persistently red eyes are usually a sign that something with your eye health is off.
This can be due to dry eye or an inflammatory condition like iritis. Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, can also be a common cause.
Pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. It can happen due to allergies, viruses, bacteria, or irritation from something like a foreign object in your eye. Along with eye redness, it can cause itchiness, a gritty feeling, discharge, and tearing, all things that should send you to an eye doctor stat.
Tears
Dry eye is a surprising potential factor that can cause excessively watery eyes. Your eyes could also be tearing up from pink eye, a problem with your cornea, or a blockage in the drainage system for your tears.
It’s been too long
Even if your eyes feel like perfection, you need to see your eye doctor regularly. The American Optometric Association breaks down eye exam recommendations by age. Babies should be screened once between six and 12 months, kids should be checked once between ages three and five, and six to 18-year-olds should be examined every year provided they don’t have any eye-related symptoms.
After you turn 18 and through the age of 64, you should get your eyes examined at least every two years, the AOA says. Once you hit 65, it’s recommended you get checked out every year.
Keep in mind that if you wear glasses or contacts, your prescription will likely expire every year, meaning you should see your eye doctor more frequently than once every two years. Same goes if you have any other eye health issues, like a family history of cataracts.
So, yes, pencil your eye exam into your calendar. Consider it a can’t-miss date with your eyes, and stick to it.
