Much like visits to the dentist, trips to the optician often get put off when we’re busy. Most parents are very good at taking their kids for regular check-ups but avoid going in themselves unless there’s a specific problem that they are worried about. Most opticians encourage a check-up every two years, even if everything seems to be fine and you are happy with your vision. But there are a few signs that you need to visit the optician, whether you are approaching that two-year check-up or not. Here’s a look at ten of them.
Blurred Vision
One of the most common and easiest-to-spot signs that you need to get your eyes tested is that your vision is blurred. Having a little blurred vision when you’ve just woken up, or when you have been in a position that might have put pressure on your eyes is typically nothing to worry about. But if you get blurred vision during the day, or it seems to come on out of nowhere and is becoming more frequent, you should certainly get your eyes checked. The sooner you do, the sooner your optician can recommend the best course of action for you. Whether that be wearing glasses, contact lenses or looking into lens replacement, you will be glad that you scheduled that appointment with an eye professional.
Trouble Reading
It’s common to find reading more difficult late at night when you are tired, or when it’s a little darker than ideal. But if you find that you’ve had to increase the font size on your computer, phone or eReader, or that you are holding books much closer than you used to, then your eyesight may have changed. Some people also notice that while they can still read well, they get a headache after reading. This might be because your eyes are having to work harder than they should. Another thing that you might notice is that you can’t read road signs as comfortably, or at all when you are driving.
Issues with Focus
Having trouble focusing might mean that your vision blurs or changes when you have to look at the same thing for a long time. It can also mean that when you switch focal points, for example switching between a computer screen that is close to you, to something further away, you can’t see clearly for a few seconds.
Trouble Adjusting from Dark to Light
It’s common to take a few seconds to adjust and focus when you turn the lights off or go into a dark room. But most of us don’t have the same problem with another way around. A very bright room might stun your eyes for a second or two, but if it’s more than that, you might need some help.
Difficulty Seeing at Night
If you find that your eyes can’t adjust to the darkness, and you can’t see at all once the lights have gone out, then your eyes might need a little extra help. You might also notice that your vision gets worse as soon as it starts to go dark, well before you’d expect the level of light to make a big difference. If you drive, you should book an appointment straight away, and avoid driving at night until then.
Seeing Spots or Lights that Aren’t There
Seeing dots, spots or lights is fairly common when you first see that very bright light. But they should clear quickly. If they linger, or you see things that aren’t there randomly without any obvious cause, you should get your sight and eye health checked.
Headaches, Dizziness or Nausea
Headaches, dizziness, or nausea can be symptoms of a huge range of health conditions. But the deterioration of eyesight or other eye health issues are among the most common, which is why if you report to your GP with headaches, one of their first questions is bound to be “when did you last get your vision tested?”.
Headaches, dizziness, and nausea are all signs that your eyesight has changed, but they can also be symptoms of conditions such as glaucoma. If you are worried about headaches, it’s worth making an appointment with a private ophthalmologist from Circle Health Group who will test your vision and look for other issues. Circle Health Group offer convenient appointments and comprehensive eye health services.
Tired Eyes
If by bedtime your eyes feel sore and tired, or you find that you feel like you need to close them, or they are very dry at periods during the day then it might mean that even if your sight seems normal, your eyes are working far harder than they should be.
Trouble Focusing on a Screen
Screens are a big part of our lives nowadays, and there’s no doubt that they can affect our vision. If you find screens hard to read, you have trouble focusing, or your eyes feel tired after a period of looking at a screen then an eye test might help.
Double or Wavy Vision
Double vision or wavy vision can be very off-putting and is almost always a symptom of an eye health issue. Get checked out if you notice even short periods of vision changes like these.
If you have any of these symptoms or are otherwise worried about your eyesight or eye health, you should book an appointment with your optician or look for a private ophthalmologist today.
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