It is easy to forget or procrastinate on your annual appointments when your life consists of a busy schedule and lots of travel. One of the most important, often overlooked, is your annual eye appointment. In fact, many people only go to the eye doctor when they feel that they are experiencing eyewear or vision problems. Arguably, eye health is one of the most important facets of our well-being. Not only are our eyes a crucial part of our body, but they can impact the rest of our body in an enormous way, both physically and mentally.
Your Eyes Change Often
The eyes are always changing! Whether they are adapting to the light or fighting allergy season, your eyes are constantly adjusting to their environment. Eyes can also experience change or become irritated when traveling. For many, changes in altitude when flying or the dryness of the plane can enhance eye problems. These effects can cause redness, discomfort, and even blurry vision from the irritation. A quick solution to help prevent this issue is by using over-the-counter eye drops. However, visiting your eye doctor can help prevent any of these seasonal or environmental changes from becoming long-term issues and protect your eyes from such conditions.
Decreases Vision Loss Over Time
As we all know, going to routine appointments helps to prevent and monitor any problems. It also is a reflection of your last visit to make sure that nothing has happened within that yearly or bi-yearly period. Bringing your file up to date with your physician is extremely important. While you can use these appointments to prevent any new or worsening ailments, you also have the opportunity to discuss and set goals with your doctor regarding your health and wellness. It’s also important to let your doctor know if you have experienced any changes to your lifestyle. Whether it’s big or small, it’s crucial to check with your doctor about any changes or difficulties in your vision.
Eyewear Wear and Tear
As mentioned previously, many individuals do not think to get their eyes examined until something is wrong or uncomfortable with their vision or eyewear. Just like the other products you use daily, eyewear experiences wear and tear over time, causing them to become loose, crooked, or scratched. Although simple adjustments can fix many issues, a lot of individuals wait until the last minute. If you are someone who consistently wears glasses, having them fit properly is vital to your overall comfort. There are many glasses that come in a variety of sizes and widths to help assure the most comfortable fit. Glasses that are not suited for your face shape and size can cause irritation and headaches, so it is beneficial to take the time to choose the most comfortable pair that coordinates with your style.
Eyes Indicate Other Health Problems
By far, one of the most important reasons to get your eyes checked is because your eye health is a window to your overall health! Changes or difficulties with your vision can uncover larger problems with your health. Some of the most common include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Although you should check in with your general physician as well, making sure that you attend your annual eye exam is a great way to assure any underlying medical conditions aren’t affecting your vision as well.
Required for Driving
If you are someone who drives, updated eye examinations are a requirement for many people to apply for or renew their licenses. Driving with impaired vision is extremely dangerous for you and other people on the road. Especially with a busy travel schedule, you always want to make sure that your examination is up-to-date so that you don’t have to worry about your license expiring or becoming invalid.
Perfect Vision Doesn’t Mean You Shouldn’t Go.
Lastly, just because you can see perfectly doesn’t mean you should not go to the eye doctor! Even if you have 20/20 vision, it is always beneficial to learn more about your personal eye health and to ensure that your vision is in good condition. Although it may not be a requirement for you to go every year, setting up eye appointments every two to three years is a great way to prevent any issues and ensure both happy and healthy eyesight!
We hope that you found this article on the importance of annual eye appointments helpful. If you have any questions or comments please comment below.
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