Should You Have Your Eyes Examined? - Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

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Published on January 23, 2017

Should You Have Your Eyes Examined?

Have you found yourself holding a restaurant menu further away from your face as you read it? Or, are you experiencing a headache every evening? You may need your eyes examined! 

Your vision naturally changes as you age. However, only a trained professional can detect some of the serious eye conditions that can rob you of your sight.

15 Reasons Why You Need an Eye Exam

  1. Things in the distance appear unrecognizable.
  2. It’s hard to read.
  3. You see spots or flashes of light in your vision.
  4. Objects appear blurry, have wavy edges or halos.
  5. You see double.
  6. Your peripheral or side vision has changed.
  7. You don’t like to drive or walk at night because you can’t see clearly.
  8. You see shadows or experience curtain-like dark spots.
  9. Your eyes have physically changed.
  10. You can’t see colors correctly.
  11. Your eyes hurt.
  12. Your eyes feel dry.
  13. Your eyes water for no reason.
  14. You have headaches.
  15. Your eyes feel tired.

Optometrists & Ophthalmologists: What's the Difference?

  • Optometrists are doctors who examine your eyes for vision and health problems. They can write prescriptions for glasses, contact lenses and medications. Some may even offer vision therapy and low-vision eye care.
  • Ophthalmologists are doctors who specialize in the disease, conditions and vision of the eye. They can provide the same treatments as an optometrist, but they're licensed to perform eye surgery.

Understand Your Eyewear Options

After your exam, your eye doctor will give your prescription to an optician, who is trained to fit glasses. He or she will help you find a pair of glasses that fits the shape of your face and works with your prescription.

During your fitting, you will be able to choose from many frame styles and colors. When you’re choosing glasses, consider how to protect your eyes from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Currently, you have three options:

  1. Use clip-on sun lenses, which are worn over prescription glasses.
  2. Order prescription sunglasses to be used outdoors.
  3. Order transition lenses. These photochromic lenses darken when exposed to UV light and eliminate the need for two pairs of glasses.

Depending on your prescription and your eye care needs, you may be able to wear contacts. These thin plastic lenses fit over the pupil of your eye. Today’s soft single-vision and bi-focal contacts are comfortable and can be worn by most people. A person who wears contacts can simply purchase a pair of UVA and UVB blocking sunglasses.

No matter which type of corrective lens you choose, your world will be brighter and more vibrant as you see everything in clear definition.

Find an Eye Doctor

If you're have one or more of the eye problems listed above, schedule an appointment with an affiliated eye doctor today.

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Should You Have Your Eyes Examined?