How to Know When You Should Visit the Eye Doctor

When it comes to your health, one of the most precious things we may take for granted is our eyesight. For this reason, it is very important that visiting the eye doctor is at least an annual event for you. It is important to get a checkup to make sure your eyes and vision are healthy, but sometimes it may not be so obvious when you should schedule an appointment. The team at Kentucky Eye Institute has compiled a brief list of instances where you should definitely think about visiting your eye doctor.

It’s been HOW long since you’ve seen an eye doctor??

If this is the typical response you get from people when you tell them how long you’ve gone without getting your eyes examined, chances are you’re overdue for an appointment. It is recommended that you see an eye doctor every one to two years, depending on your age and eye condition. If you wear corrective lenses, you should see your Kentucky eye doctor at least every year. A lot can happen to your vision in just a year’s time. Even slight changes that go unnoticed over time can show up in an exam. So, just to make sure your eyesight is still tip-top, contact your doctor soon to schedule an check up.

Change in Prescription

If you’ve noticed that you don’t see as clearly out of your contact lenses or glasses as you used to, your doctor will be able to perform an updated eye exam and then give you an updated prescription. Even if it is before your annual exam, it’s not to worry. Sometimes our eyes may change at different speeds than the year before. It’s no fun walking around not being able to see everything perfectly clear. Needing a current prescription is a perfect reason to visit the eye doctor.

Mild Discomfort

If you’ve been experiencing mild discomfort or any discomfort for that matter, you should see your eye doctor immediately. When it comes to your eyes, never wait for the problem to go away on its own – it is too much of a risk. This is especially true since many eye problems can go unnoticed with no symptoms. If you wear contacts regularly, it could be that you scratched your eye unknowingly while taking your contacts out. No matter the issue, your local eye doctor will have the tools to assess the problem and prescribe the appropriate medicine or care. Some tips to help until you can be seen by the doctor are:

  • Take contacts out and give your eyes a break
  • Be cautious of the types of eye drops you use
  • If you use a computer regularly at work, follow the 20-20-20 rule: take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.

An Eye Emergency

If you’ve got an object or chemical substance in your eye, or you have an injury that is affecting your eye, you should seek help as soon as you can. If you can’t be seen by an eye doctor immediately, go to the emergency room but follow up at your eye doctor so they can properly address any conditions. Additionally, if there is any pain, redness, or swelling after you’ve come in contact with a substance or have an injury, see your eye doctor immediately. Any untreated problem, even if for a short time, can cause partial or temporary vision problems and even vision loss. Be smart about your eye health and always seek help.

We offer eye exams for the whole family at Kentucky Eye Institute. We are your team of Kentucky Eye Doctors, and we are dedicated to providing the utmost care to our patients, no matter the eye condition. We offer treatments for cataracts, glaucoma, and refractive errors, among other conditions. Schedule an appointment with our nearest office today!