Visual Clarity: The Importance of Getting Your Vision Checked
According to recent reports from the ophthalmology sector, an estimated 40 percent of adults and 35 percent of children have their vision tested regularly. That’s far below the number who need to do so. In fact, everyone from young children to senior citizens should have their vision checked at least once every year or two. Many people feel that since they don’t seem to have any noticeable vision issues, they don’t need to visit the eye doctor, but that’s far from the truth. Routine vision checks are essential for several reasons.
Table of Contents
Catching Vision Issues Early
For one, getting your vision checked regularly is the key to catching vision issues early on so you can get glasses or contact lenses as soon as you need them. Many people with vision issues don’t realize they have a problem at first. Declining vision usually starts off on a relatively minor note and grows worse over time. Though it may not be obvious in the beginning, it can certainly cause headaches, eye strain, and many other problems. The longer it goes unchecked, the more severe those problems can become.
Dealing With Degradation
Another reason to have regular eye exams performed is to stay on top of vision changes. Once your vision starts to fade, it’s probably going to grow worse. As is the case in the beginning of this process, it’s going to worsen over time. This often happens so gradually that people don’t realize it’s happening. Some go years before noticing that their glasses or contact lenses aren’t quite as effective as they were in the beginning. Failing to deal with that degradation as it occurs could cause your vision to decline even faster than it would otherwise.
Maintaining Eye Health
In addition to vision issues, a variety of medical conditions can affect the eyes. Those include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy to name a few. These conditions develop gradually. Though they often cause no noticeable symptoms in the beginning, they can lead to irreversible eye damage if they’re not caught and treated early.
Glaucoma, for example, damages the optic nerve and can cause blindness, but it produces not noticeable warning signs in the beginning. Diabetic retinopathy also has no symptoms in its early stages, but it’s the leading cause of blindness among adults in America. Reports indicate that a significant portion of vision loss caused by medical conditions is preventable or at least treatable if it’s caught and addressed early enough. During regular eye exams, ophthalmologists go beyond vision testing to check your eye health and catch problems as early as possible.
Unearthing Medical Problems
On another note, routine eye exams can be the key to detecting medical conditions beyond those that affect the eyes. It has long been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. They also happen to be windows into your overall health in some cases. Ophthalmologists may notice signs of chronic medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol during routine eye exams. Certain changes in the blood vessels in your eyes could indicate serious vascular issues. Those are only a few examples.
Keeping Your Eyes and Your Body in Optimal Health
Many people forgo routine eye exams because they think they don’t have vision issues or they don’t realize their vision is growing worse. Even if you don’t notice an issue, though, it’s important to have your eyes checked regularly. Doing so can help you stay on top of vision changes as they occur. It can also ensure your eyes are as healthy as possible. Eye exams may even unearth early warning signs of more extensive medical issues. With all that being the case, don’t underestimate the importance of getting your vision checked.

Alan Roodey is a professional Author and contributor to many sites. He loves to write on various topics.