You guys, seriously. It’s time to get with the program. Nothing ticks me off more than when I ask people when the last time they got their eye exam and they respond with “Oh, I see fine, I don’t need to go.” Like, they say that even when they know I’m an optometrist! Really, people? Really? Or I always love the ever popular “My kids haven’t been complaining of anything, their fine.” Or “They got checked by the school nurse.” No, no and no. SMH.

Did you know, a recent study found that one in four adults hadn’t had an eye exam in the past two years, and the same proportion was unaware that an eye exam could prevent them from losing their sight? That’s ridiculous!

Look, I know your life is busy and you’ve got 15 million things that require your attention. I know it’s not easy to schedule time for your regular eye exams. But I’m here to tell you that it’s an absolute MUST people! That’s why I’m giving you five great reasons to remember your eyesight when you’re calendaring in your week, month or year. Ready? Let’s Goooooo!

1. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Many eye diseases, such as glaucoma, are slow-acting and what we optometrists refer to as “silent thieves of sight”, because by the time you notice the symptoms, they are already very advanced. In my experience, people who have the best “20/20” eyesight end up actually having the worst eye diseases because of this misconception that if you see well, your eyes are healthy. Not true, my friends, not true. So the most important thing you can do to avoid permanent vision loss from these types of sneaky diseases is to schedule those regular eye exams so they can be caught early on and treated. Capish?

2. Vision Screenings Miss the Mark
Many schools provide free vision screenings, which seems like a pretty good deal. The problem is that these screenings focus on visual acuity, which means they don’t catch everything. Only a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist can check for other issues that could be making vision-related tasks (such as reading or focusing) difficult or uncomfortable for a child. A good way to think about it would be, would you let the school nurse check your kids teeth and then never bring them to a dentist? Of course not! Why would their eyes be any different?

3. Digital Eye Strain Sucks!
Many of us have jobs or hobbies that require us to spend most of the day looking at a computer screen. Without frequent breaks and the right visual equipment, this can lead to eye strain, blurred vision, dry eyes, and headaches. Regular eye exams are a great way to make sure you have the right tools to fight back against eye strain and protect your eyes for the future.

4. Another Candle On The Cake = Time For an Rx Update
Our vision changes each time we add another candle on ye old birthday cake, and glasses or contacts that used to provide us with perfectly clear vision may gradually become less effective. Don’t subject yourself to months or years of endless squinting; schedule your next eye exam so you can get the help you need, pronto!

5. The Eyes Are The Windows To Your Health
As important as it is to have eye exams for the sake of preventing and diagnosing eye diseases and keeping your prescription current, they’re also an important way to look out for your overall health. Your optometrist is often the first person to spot the signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even cancer, all from a routine eye exam.

Friends, one of main goals in starting this blog is to increase awareness of good eye care practices, and a great way you can show me some love is by scheduling an eye exam, particularly if it’s been longer than a year since the last one. Your local optometrist will love to see you!