Health is one of the most important factors for most people and we do many things to try and maintain it as best we can. However, sometimes in our quest to be as healthy as possible, we neglect some of the obvious things we should be taking care of. One of the things that many people don’t put much thought into is eye health. In particular, people who think they don’t have problems with their eyes tend to think they have no need to see an eye doctor and people who do wear glasses or have bad vision simply neglect to visit the doctor if their symptoms don’t seem to get worse. The opposite is true; everyone, regardless of perceived eye health and age, should see an eye doctor from time to time.
How often should you go to the eye doctor?
An eye doctor is a certified professional who specializes in eye health and who and diagnose and treat various eye conditions. So how often should you go to the eye doctor? Typically, if you have no symptoms or previous issues, every 2 years is what is recommended for most people to see an eye doctor. If you wear glasses or have had any issues or are at risk of issues, then you will need to go more often. For people with healthy eyes, it’s important to visit an eye doctor for a check-up to ensure that everything is good. As we get older and due to genetic predispositions that we may not be aware of, certain eye conditions and diseases can occur and without treatment, they can have dire consequences. Here are some examples or eye conditions that can arise throughout your health:
- cataracts
- glaucoma
- dry eyes
- infection
- eye cancer
- macular degeneration
- detached retina
People who wear contact lenses are particularly at risk for various infections while people who are very near-sighted are at risk for a detached retina. Diabetes can cause a host of eye and vision problems that can be controlled with proper care.
An eye doctor can check for eye diseases and either treat them or refer you to a specialist who can. Treatment could be anything from medication, drops or surgery. For people with vision problems and who wear corrective lenses, the eye doctor can check if the vision has changed so your prescription can be updated. Not updating a corrective lens prescription at least every two years can result in other problems such as eye strain and headaches.
If you don’t already have an eye doctor, just go online and search for eye doctors in your area or search your yellow pages. A friend or family member may be able to recommend a reputable doctor to you as well. You will be required to fill out some forms about any existing health issues and family health history so your doctor can have this on file when you come back in the future. If you end up needing glasses, most offices are attached to a retail area that sells a variety of eyeglasses.
Besides seeing your eye doctor regularly, there are other things you can do to protect and maintain your eye health. Drinking plenty of water to flush out toxins, eating a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables especially ones rich in vitamin A, taking a multi-vitamin, getting plenty of sleep, avoiding looking at screens for long periods of time and wearing safety goggles when working around anything that could endanger your eyes are all important steps to take when trying to keep your eyes as healthy as possible.
Looking for a recommendation, check out this eye doctor in Plano TX.