Your eyes are one of the most important vital organs of your body because it allows you to connect with your surroundings, maintain the sharpness of your mind, and keep you safe from harm. Moreover, your eyesight is essential because how you react and behave in certain situations today depends on the things you’ve seen in the past.
For your eyes to work properly and provide benefits, it’s important to know when you should see an optometrist. This information will make it easy for you to prevent eye diseases from occurring and getting worse. Regular appointments with an optometrist in Fort Myers, or anywhere else in the world, is a smart investment as it enables you to take care of your eyes for the longest time possible.
If you notice any of the signs below, it’s high time that you set a schedule with an optometrist as soon as possible:
Seeing Halos
Contrary to popular belief, seeing glowing circles every time you look at bulbs isn’t normal. Seeing halos is actually one of the most common signs of cataracts. This eye disease can cause blurry or cloudy vision, making it challenging for you to accomplish simple chores, such as driving and reading.
If seeing halos has become a regular occurrence, click here and have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist right away. These professionals have the necessary equipment and experience to properly check your eyesight and determine the cause of why you see halos.
Red Or Pink Eyes
Seeing red or pink in the eye is common, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do anything about it and wait until it goes away on its own. Red or pink eye is a common symptom of conjunctivitis (inflammation in the conjunctiva), glaucoma, or allergies, which can worsen drastically when left untreated.
Don’t attempt to treat a red or pink eye by using over-the-counter drugs as this can only do more harm than good. Instead, opt to see an ophthalmologist if you notice a sudden change of color in your sclera (the white part of your eye surrounding the cornea).
Persistent Eye Pressure
Although common for almost everyone, most headaches usually go away on its own. If not, taking a pain reliever is enough to do the trick. However, if you see yourself suffering from persistent sinus headache even after taking pain relievers, your eyes might be the culprit.
Persistent eye pressure might feel like a common headache, but this problem is actually a sign of glaucoma. When left untreated, glaucoma can eventually cause vision loss and blindness.
Make sure that none of these happens by visiting an ophthalmologist the moment you experience persistent eye pressure.
Difficulty Seeing At Night, Especially When Driving
Driving at night can be challenging, but by using the right gear in your vehicle, this can become a very manageable task. The headlights attached to your vehicle can help you see the road clearly and determine if there are any nearby vehicles and pedestrians. However, if you see yourself struggling to see things behind the wheel even with the headlights on, be wary as your eyes might be telling you something.
Having difficulty seeing things at night is a common sign of eye problems. While this problem can be treated by wearing new prescription glasses, there are also instances when this becomes a sign of cataract.
Avoid making guesses and visit the nearest ophthalmologist in your area if you see yourself unable to drive at night. They can accurately assess your night vision and come up with the best plan of action.
Extreme Sensitivity To Light
Humans are advised to wear a pair of sunglasses when they’re outdoors because the sunlight can cause pain and discomfort to the eyes. Wearing a pair can also protect the eyes from potential damages caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
However, if you see yourself in extreme pain because of the sunlight even when wearing sunglasses, that’s another story. Extreme sensitivity to light can mean that several parts of your eyes are inflamed (usually the cornea).
Being extremely sensitive to light should prompt you to see an ophthalmologist right away. This pain can scar your eyes, which can result in permanent damage. By seeing a professional as soon as possible, the main causes of your sensitivity can easily be diagnosed and treated.
Your Efforts Count
Seeing an optometrist regularly can help you take care of your eyes, but keep in mind that your efforts also count. Regardless of how often you visit your optometrist, if you don’t follow their instructions, don’t expect that your eyes will continue to provide the aforementioned benefits.
Asking help from professionals and supplementing their recommendations with your commitment is one of the best combinations for you to have healthy eyes!
About the Author: Elmer Morris
Elmer Morris is a full-time blogger who writes topics on health and wellness. Most of Elmer’s readers are people who struggle to take care of their health, and his articles provide solutions to their health-related dilemma.
