Does it really matter if I ignore that reminder about an eye test that appeared through my letterbox last week? How often do I actually need to get my eyes tested? Does this change with age? How do I know if a doctor or an optician is the best healthcare professional to assess my health issue? If you’re asking yourself these questions, read on to find out when you’re due a trip to the optician.
Making your eye health a priority is easy.
Taking care of our eye health should be on your daily to do list. It doesn’t need to be time consuming or take up all of your attention – it’s about getting into a healthy routine. For example, keep a pair of sunglasses in your car or by your bottle of sun cream so that you remember to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
Get into the habit of reducing your screen time. Now that many of us are working from home, this is especially important. Extended screen time ‘can cause challenges to eye health from a reduced rate of blinking when using computer screens, and simply not taking breaks from close-distance focusing. Eyes need a rest’, says leading ophthalmic surgeon, Mr. Robert Morris. Opticians recommend that every twenty minutes, you look away from your screen, blink for twenty seconds, then return to your work. It won’t take long before this becomes a habit, and the rewards will be beneficial to your physical and emotional health. It will reduce headaches and stress levels, increasing productivity and energy.
Am I due a trip to the optician?
The most important habit to obtain is getting your eyes tested regularly. If an eye professional is keeping steady, close tabs on your eye health, they’ll be able to detect any issues early, increasing the effectiveness of any necessary treatment or lifestyle changes. At David Paul Opticians, we recommend getting your eyes tested at least once a year if you already wear glasses or lenses. If your eyes are in good health, you can consider decreasing this to a trip to the optician once every two years. It’s important that young children get their eyes tested every twelve months.
Looking after your eyes is not only essential in ensuring they are healthy, but it’s integral in detecting other issues. A lot of health issues that aren’t necessarily correlated to your vision can actually be detected through looking at the eyes, such as diabetes.
Still not convinced you need to book yourself an eye test? Read on, here are four more reasons:
- Regular eye tests can put your mind at ease. This is especially true when it comes to children – routine eye checks can help identify and solve any issues that have occurred early on in your child’s development.
- If you’re short or long sighted, regular eye examinations are even more important. Your eyesight may be deteriorating without you realising – different people have different sensitivity levels, and only an optician can diagnose an underlying issue or worsening eye sight.
- We mentioned diabetes. Here are some other health conditions that a trip to the optician could uncover:
- Abnormal blood pressure
- Thyroid disease
- Autoimmune disorder
- Cancer
- Hypertension
- High Cholesterol
Many of these issues don’t have a host of obvious symptoms. Even if you’re feeling fit, don’t cancel your upcoming eye test. The Vision of Britain report states that only 45% of adults realise that eye tests can detect problems with the retina, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
- Our eyesight can change more rapidly than you think. Are you a hardworking student, spending hours with your head bent over your books or laptop? Do you spend a lot of time in the sun? These factors can affect the rate of worsening eye sight, and the truth is, your eyesight inevitably gets weaker with age. As you get older, you’re also more susceptible to a range of other illnesses, many of which can be detected with a simple eye examination.
Our store in Berkhampstead is fully equipped with the latest technologies like Daytona Optomap and Topcon 3D OCT 2000 advanced eye examination systems. Established with an aim to offer quality eye care services and the latest optical products, we have gained a fantastic reputation across Hertfordshire for our dedicated service and our wide range of men’s and women’s glasses and sunglasses. For more information, get in touch today at info@davidpaul.co.uk or call 01442 879 303. Look after your eyes. Book yourself an appointment at David Paul Opticians and don’t delay.