The Importance Of A Regular Eye Check-Up

When you lead a very busy and active life, it can sometimes be difficult to find time to attend some of the appointments that we are asked to go to, including regular eye check-ups. It may also seem like a low priority if you aren't currently experiencing any issues with the health of your eyes or your vision. Unfortunately, many people view eye appointments much like doctors’ visits and think that they are only necessary if there is a problem. However, attending regular eye check-ups are far more important than you may realize. Here’s why.

Eye health is just as important as the overall health of your body. Regrettably, there are a range of different diseases that can affect our eyes and consequently, some may also affect our vision. These include glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis, conjunctivitis and more. Part of your regular eye check-up will involve evaluating your eyes for any sign of any of these conditions.

Many people are very surprised to discover that as well as being dubbed ‘the windows to the soul’, the eyes are also a window to some aspects of your general health. This is because, by assessing your eyes for any abnormalities, your eye doctor can identify the potential for other serious health conditions including autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.  

It is easy to take our vision for granted, but we rely on it more than we realize. Being able to see clearly helps us to function day to day, doing everything from moving around safely to working and participating in recreational activities. When our vision is compromised, it can also compromise the quality of our day to day lives. However, if you have vision problems such as myopia, seeking professional support to get your vision corrected can significantly improve the quality of your day to day life. 

Estimates suggest that a huge 80% of all blindness is preventable – provided that developing eye problems that could compromise your vision are diagnosed and treated promptly. Many of the different eye diseases that can arise develop slowly and symptoms appear gradually. This means that there could potentially be damage caused to your vision before you even realize it. By ensuring that you attend regular eye check-ups, your eye doctor has the best opportunity to monitor the health of your eyes and your vision and detect any concerning patterns or developing issues as early as possible, potentially saving your vision. 

It isn’t just adults that will benefit from attending regular eye check-ups. Children need to be able to see clearly to be able to access conventional learning strategies at school. A surprising number of children are misdiagnosed with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and ADD each year when really, they are simply unable to see clearly, and this hampers their ability to focus and do well at school. Ensuring that your child has a clear vision will help them to achieve their full potential in their education. 

For more information about the importance of regular eye check-ups, or to schedule your appointment, please contact our offices where our team will be delighted to help.