People are busier than ever these days, and it can be easy to put off scheduling an eye exam, especially if you feel like your vision is fine.

Getting an eye exam is about more than your vision, though, and is an important part of your overall health care. When was the last time you got an eye exam? We’ll share five top reasons to prioritize your health, vision, and overall wellness by scheduling an eye exam.  

1. Digital Eye Strain  

The American Optometric Association states that the average American worker spends seven hours a day on a computer either in the office or while working from home. Even if you aren’t looking at a computer for work, we are all spending more time in front of digital screens these days, and the high visual demands of looking at screens throughout the day can stress your eyes and visual system.

Digital eye strain can cause headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, eyestrain, and dry eyes. Symptoms can be worsened by improper viewing distance from the computer, poor lighting, and uncorrected vision problems.  

Getting an eye exam will diagnose any vision problem and you may also need eyeglasses with special lenses to alleviate digital eye strain so that you have visual comfort and feel your best.

2. Detect Underlying Health Issues  

During an eye exam, your eye doctor can spot underlying health issues you may not know about, such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Your eyes are a window to your health! The retina, located in the back of your eyes, is the only place in your body where blood vessels can be seen directly, and health issues happening in your body impact your blood vessels.

3. Prevent Vision Loss from Serious Eye Diseases  

Glaucoma is a progressive disease that will damage sight and is characterized by a lack of symptoms in the early stages. Many people with glaucoma don’t even realize they have it! Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” for this reason.  

Diabetic eye disease can also cause vision loss in diabetics, and there may be mild or no symptoms in the early stages. Macular degeneration is another serious eye disease without symptoms in the early stages and progresses gradually. By the time you notice vision loss, the disease is in an advanced stage, and there currently is no cure for it.  

The best way to prevent vision loss from some serious eye diseases is by getting regular eye exams.

4. Your Vision Will Change Over Time

You may feel like your vision is fine, but your vision will change over time, and we can adjust to changes without being fully aware of it. Even small changes in your vision can affect how you feel every day while working, driving, and engaging in other daily activities.

5. Get an Updated Prescription  

If you currently wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to see, then you need regular eye exams to assess your vision and to get an updated prescription. As mentioned, your vision will change over time, so even if you feel your vision is fine, you may be surprised to learn during an eye exam that it can be better with a change in the prescription!  

Schedule an Eye Exam at Vision Center, LTD or Waterbury Eye Associates

The doctors at Vision Center, LTD in Shelton, CT and Waterbury Eye Associates in Waterbury, CT have the expertise and the latest in technology to provide high-quality eye health and vision care. Make your health and vision a priority and schedule an eye exam today!