When was the last time you visited an eye expert?

In the United States, it’s common for people to go years between appointments, especially if they don’t wear contact lenses. Many health insurance plans don’t include vision coverage, so it takes the back burner.

Your eyes are sensitive, and it’s important to take care of them so you can maintain your vision. We’re here to talk about a few signs that something may be amiss with your eyes so you know when to make an appointment.

Read on to learn more.

1. Your Eyes Feel Dry and Scratchy

Occasional dry and scratchy eyes are common and generally nothing to worry about. They can be the result of allergies, colds, low humidity, and more. As long as the problem resolves itself quickly or with storebought eyedrops, it’s likely not a problem.

With that in mind, if you experience dry eyes more often than not, it may be a sign that something is wrong. There could be an unknown irritant in your eye or even a serious eye condition.

Look for an eye care specialist if your eyes always feel dry and scratchy. They may prescribe special eye drops that can help.

2. Your Vision Is Blurry

Even people who have always had 20/20 vision can develop blurry vision as they get older. Many people lose the ability to differentiate colors, see far away, and more. This isn’t something to stress over if you’re a senior, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t see an eye care expert for help.

They’ll be able to set you up with glasses or discuss your options regarding surgery.

If you’re still a younger adult, sudden blurry vision could be indicative of a larger problem, especially if it happened over a short period of time. This is something that you should bring up with an eye doctor right away.

3. You Get Headaches While Reading

So your long-distance and short-distance vision seems great, but you get headaches while you’re reading. What’s going on?

Even if you can see all of the letters fine, it’s likely that your vision isn’t as good as you think it is. Your eyes have to work harder to focus on your book or screen, so you’re getting a headache as a result.

Visit an optometrist for a checkup. They can prescribe reading glasses or bifocals if you already wear glasses.

4. You’re Experiencing Light Sensitivity

Even if your vision is fantastic and your eyes usually feel fine, you may experience eye discomfort when you’re out in the sun or in a bright room. This is photosensitivity.

If it only happens once in a while, it isn’t anything to worry about. If it happens every time you’re in bright light, it might be time to look into “optometrists near me” for assistance.

Light sensitivity can be a result of glaucoma, corneal abrasion, and more.

Do You Need an Eye Expert?

If any of these problems sound familiar to you, it might be time to talk to an eye expert. Even if it turns out that your eye problems are no big deal, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. You only get one set of eyes, so you should take good care of them.

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