Industry Insight
Many people think an eye test is only necessary when their vision starts to become blurry. However, regular eye examinations are about much more than simply checking whether you need glasses.
An eye test can assess your vision, check the health of your eyes and, in some cases, help identify signs of other health conditions.
How Often Should You Have an Eye Test?
Even if you feel that you have perfect vision, regular eye examinations are important.
Your eyes can change gradually, meaning you may not notice that your vision has changed until it begins to affect your everyday life.
An optometrist can assess your eyesight and determine whether you need a new prescription or whether your current glasses or contact lenses are still suitable.
What Happens During an Eye Test?
An eye examination isn’t simply about reading letters from a chart.
Depending on your circumstances, your optometrist may:
- Check how clearly you can see at different distances.
- Assess how well your eyes work together.
- Check your peripheral vision.
- Examine the health of the front and back of your eyes.
- Check your eye pressure where appropriate.
- Discuss any changes or concerns you may have noticed with your vision.
These checks can help your optometrist identify potential problems at an early stage.
Can An Eye Test Detect Other Health Problems?
Your eyes can provide valuable information about your overall health.
Changes in the blood vessels and structures at the back of the eye can sometimes be associated with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
This is one of the reasons regular eye examinations are important — even if you don’t currently have any problems with your vision.
What Are The Signs You Might Need An Eye Test?
You may benefit from an eye examination if you’ve noticed:
- Blurred or hazy vision.
- Frequent headaches.
- Difficulty reading.
- Struggling to see at night.
- Needing to hold things further away to read them.
- Eye strain or tired eyes.
- Difficulty seeing road signs.
- Increased sensitivity to light.
- Changes in your vision.
However, you don’t necessarily need to wait until you experience symptoms before having your eyes checked.
Don’t Take Your Vision For Granted
Our eyes play an important role in almost everything we do, from working and driving to reading and enjoying time with friends and family.
Taking the time to look after your eye health is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your vision.
If you haven’t had your eyes tested recently, it could be time to book an appointment with your optometrist.