Importance of getting eyes tested
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Good eye health and having an eye test every two years is important. Looking after your eyes is just as important as looking after the rest of your body.
Preventing damage and sight loss
Getting your eyes tested can help prevent, or limit, the damage caused by certain eye conditions.
Regular eye examinations are important because:
- having your vision corrected can improve the quality of day-to-day life
- they will help find certain eye conditions which could lead to sight loss (such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration)
- poor vision could be a risk for falls
An optometrist may also be able to spot the signs of some broader health conditions with symptoms that affect the eyes, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Children
Eye examinations for children are vital to make sure that any problems are found and treated early, such as:
- squint
- lazy eye (amblyopia)
- short-sightedness (myopia)
- Eye care for children
Keeping eyes healthy
Other important steps you can take to help keep your eyes healthy include:
- stopping smoking
- protecting eyes in bright sunlight or glare
- a healthy, balanced diet and taking regular exercise
- wearing safety goggles to protect eyes while doing DIY and/ or sporting activities
- wearing goggles when necessary in the workplace
- taking regular breaks if working at a computer screen
If you do notice a change to your sight, never dismiss it as ‘just part of getting older’ – contact your local optometrist immediately.