The health of your eyes is just as important as the health of the rest of your body. Keeping up with regular eye exams should be habit; when you schedule your next physical, take time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam too. Doing so may mean early detection of an eye disease, which could, in turn, save your vision.
Though you should maintain routine eye exams, there are certain signs and symptoms to watch for that may warrant an immediate appointment with your eye doctor. If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your eye care professional today:
- Decreasing or double vision
- Eye pain
- Red eye or eye drainage
- Diabetes
- Flashes or floaters
- Circles or halos around light
- Sudden changes in your vision
The Key-Whitman eye center provides patients with more than laser eye surgery. Key-Whitman clinics in Dallas, North Arlington, South Arlington and Plano provide eye exams for patients of all ages. Following an eye exam, patients may be fitted for and purchase a pair of prescription glasses at our Optical Center. A comprehensive eye exam can detect vision problems and eye conditions. When detected early, most eye conditions can be treated, before your vision is affected. Eye conditions can affect
individuals of any age, including children.
Eye Health for Children and Teenagers
Children and teenagers should have routine eye exams to check for vision problems. It’s not uncommon for a child or teenager’s eyeglasses or contact lens prescription to change from year to year. For the most part, our vision remains steady as we reach adulthood. Amblyopia (lazy eye) is one condition that commonly affects young children. Early detection and treatment is essential for a strong, healthy eye.
Children should begin receiving routine eye exams around three years of age, but should be checked earlier if the parent suspects vision problems.
Eye Health for Adults Under 40
During early adulthood, vision should be fully developed. Adults under 40 are at lower risk of experiencing eye conditions such as cataracts, although not completely exempt from developing such eye conditions. As adults, regular vision screening and testing for glaucoma is essential to maintaining eye health.
Eye Health for Middle-Aged Adults
This is the time of life when many eye conditions and diseases begin to develop. Early detection through complete eye exams can help prevent severe vision loss. Health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes can also affect eye health. Adults who have been diagnosed with any systemic health problems, should keep their eye doctor fully informed of their health history.
Adults Over 60
Normal aging should not cause vision loss, however, some vision changes are normal with age. Presbyopia develops with age and can make focusing and adjusting to light changes more difficult. Older adults with existing eye conditions may find driving at night or in the rain more challenging as they age. Older adults may also be more likely to develop cataracts.
Can you remember the date of your last eye exam? If not, it’s likely time for you to schedule a dilating comprehensive eye exam to check for vision problems and eye conditions. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Key-Whitman today.
