Our vision can begin to slightly deteriorate due to age, overuse, or a medical condition. People who are in professions whereby they read or work at a computer all day can develop nearsightedness (when things up close are clear, but things farther away are out of focus), whereas people who are in other professions and avocations can develop farsightedness (the opposite of nearsightedness).
Health issues such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma can all affect vision. Let’s talk about some of the main reasons why you would want to visit an eye clinic, and where you can go here in the Washington area for outstanding vision care.
Reason #1: You Have Blurry or Out-of-Focus Vision
You may be surprised to hear that you need glasses to read or to drive when you’re relatively young, but vision issues can happen at any age. Be sure to see an eye doctor for an evaluation even if you think your vision is being disrupted due to a constant lack of sleep.
Reason #2: You Are Over the Age of 40
If you have never been to an eye doctor before, now is the time to undergo a comprehensive eye exam. Age-related vision changes most often include presbyopia (nearsightedness), and you may notice that you need more light to read clearly up close. What you really need are glasses to enable you to read clearly again.
If you need glasses only to see near or far but not both, it is best for your eyes to take off your glasses when you do not need them. Otherwise, your eyes are being forced to focus through your glasses and then to refocus past the glasses.
Reason #3: You Have Dry or Watery Eyes
Another common eye condition is dry eye. It can have different causes, from hormonal changes to autoimmune conditions to allergies.
Dry eye causes the eyes to become dry and irritated, and your eyes may automatically respond with an overproduction of tears. At an eye clinic, you can get prescription eye drops that will help relieve the discomfort caused by dry eye and will provide the needed lubrication.
Reason #4: You Are Losing Part of Your Vision
If you are developing vision loss in any part of your visual field, such as your peripheral vision, your eye doctor will check for glaucoma, a detached retina, and other issues. If these issues are caught early, they can be successfully treated by your eye doctor. Otherwise, you may continue to develop pressure buildup inside the eye that can lead to permanent damage of your optic nerve, and this can cause partial or total blindness.
Trusted Eye Clinic in St. Louis, MO
Here at the Advanced Sight Center, our ophthalmologists can perform a comprehensive eye exam that reveals a clear picture of your eye health. We highly encourage patients to schedule regular eye exams for early detection of vision changes and any underlying issues.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an eye exam, contact us today by calling our Washington clinic at (636) 239-1650, or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to seeing you!
