Why Vision Care is vital

It’s an easy task to take our vision for granted because most of us don’t give it much thought. We’re normally so involved with other things that we don’t take time to appreciate its worth. Some don’t realise its value until they’re put in trying situations which involve its use. It’s also a common misunderstanding that vision care is just necessary when complications arise. Most people are unaware of the truth that a trip to the optometrist is a must at least once every couple of years.

Regular check-ups aside, when is it best to consult with my optometrist?

Aside from regular check-ups, a trip to the optometrist is needed when a patient starts to show warning signs of vision loss. In cases like this, primary care is first offered by an optometrist. When special vision care is needed, a patient is going to be referred to an ophthalmologist for extra care. It’s important to remember that an ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician are three different people. Ophthalmologists offer specialised care plus do surgery. Opticians in contrast, concentrate on the prescription of graded eyeglasses.

Most difficulties concerning vision can usually be treated by a primary care physician including an optometrist. Every time a patient suffers from one or more of the following, it’s time to seek the help of an eye doctor:

– Unclear eyesight
– Difficulty seeing into the distance or reading up close
– Difficulty seeing at night or encountering glares during the daytime

Together with these, some patients also encounter many symptoms that could be linked with various eye problems. These symptoms can include regular headaches when reading print or looking at a computer, double vision, and overall poor eyesight.

What are the common eye health conditions and solutions I might encounter?

The difficulties and symptoms previously mentioned may be tell-tale signs of one of the subsequent eye conditions:

Myopia – This is a problem which makes faraway objects seem blurry, and near items look clear. It is also known as short or near-sightedness. It’s a common problem experienced by persons of all ages. For children, the most effective way to determine this problem is by knowing their ability to look at the blackboard from the back of a classroom. Opticians prescribe eyeglasses with concave lenses for them.

Hyperopia – This condition is the opposite of myopia and is referred to as long or far-sightedness. Most people with this issue also report eye fatigue and frequent headaches. Much like myopia, mild cases don’t automatically call for corrective lenses, but an optician may recommend them when required.

Astigmatism – In many instances, this isn’t thought to be an eye disease. Rather, patients identified as having this condition have differently shaped corneas hindering them from seeing properly. Corrective eyeware with cylindrical lenses are recommended for these cases.

Presbyopia – The last of the four most common eye conditions deals largely with old age. As we get older, the muscles that help our eyes focus degenerate. This condition is corrected if you use convex lenses.

Regular vision care is recommended to address these issues before they deteriorate. Keep in mind that healthy eyesight leads to you living a fuller and happier life.

Mirabelle Potter worked as an assistant to an optician to understand more about vision care.

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