When to Visit the Optometrist

People all over Australia asked themselves whether they needed to consider an eye exam and the answer was almost always in the affirmative. Everyone’s eyes are not quite the same and this makes it important that they follow the advice provided their eye care providers. If you find yourself for any reason concerned about your sight, you need to see an optometrist as soon as possible. With his or her help, you should be given the treatments and diagnosis needed to recover quickly from a problem.

Unlike going to the dentist, patients generally did not need to see the eye doctor every six months for eye exams. Instead, they could readily rely on annual examinations designed to check their eyesight and attempt to spot other conditions. Typically, a comprehensive eye exam was performed for people with healthy and clear eyesight every two years while those with poor eyesight were encouraged to come every year. Those with medical conditions such as diabetes or other ocular disorders, previous eye trauma, high prescriptions, lazy eyes, or family histories of glaucoma were required to come in even more frequently.

However, there were some signs and symptoms that require immediate examination from an optometrist. If you or someone you know experience any of these important symptoms, you must immediately schedule an eye exam and you may even need medical attention. By spotting such signs early, you may save your eyesight from a potentially harmful condition.

Sudden Blurry Vision or Problems Focusing

Those who experienced sudden blurry vision or focus problems might have experienced a sign of a larger health issue and are expected to take these signs seriously. If they discovered the blurry vision came and went or it was limited to one eye, they often scheduled exams with optometrists or ophthalmologists as soon as possible. An optometrist in Cannington often got to the root of the problem quickly and offered multiple treatment options to suit the patient’s unique condition. If treated quickly, most patients did not experience traumatic or long-lasting diagnoses.

Floaters, Flashes of Light, or Vision Obstruction

Those who experienced sudden onset of any of these visual disturbances were expected to see optometrists immediately. These symptoms often indicated a serious vision-threatening disorder such as retinal detachment, retinal tearing, or a retinal hole. Anyone who suddenly experienced these signs was expected to seek immediate medical attention an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or emergency room physician for diagnosis and treatment. This had to be done within 24 hours to minimise loss of vision and increase the chances of a successful treatment. If put off, often due to a lack of urgency, some patients lost the sight in one or both eyes.

Headaches

Frequent headaches often indicated a vision problem. Some people went their entire lives with visual impediments without any diagnosis or knowledge of them. Changes in vision take place slowly and are often imperceptible to the patient at first. However, headaches indicate the early warning signs of a change in vision. If you or someone you know recently realised that you were experiencing more and more headaches, it may be time for an eye examination.

Steffy Alen

Steffy Alen