5 Things Your Eye Doctor Wants You to Know

Even if you have near-perfect eyesight, you may not know how to care for your ocular health or what to avoid. Many patients visit us with concerns about vision “myths” they’ve heard, so we’re here to debunk some common ones.

Fact: Wearing glasses doesn’t make your eyes weaker.

Glasses help correct vision problems like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism, allowing you see more clearly. However, they do not cause your eyesight to deteriorate! It’s likely that children will need a stronger glasses prescription every few years until their vision stabilizes in adulthood. However, this is because vision naturally changes with age. Fortunately, we offer myopia control for children to help slow the progression of nearsightedness.

Fact: Not following contact lens instructions can be hazardous.

Improperly wearing or caring for contacts can lead to infection, corneal damage, and even vision loss. Play it safe! Wear contacts for the prescribed length of time. Use approved solution. Wash your hands before and after touching your contacts. Remove contacts before swimming or showering. And, don’t sleep with contact lenses unless instructed to do so—like you would while wearing orthokeratology lenses. Proper contact lens hygiene also includes disposing of contacts when instructed!

Fact: Visits to see us can reveal underlying health conditions.

Trips to the eye doctor are about much more than updating glasses prescriptions. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and we agree! Your eyes can show signs of many medical conditions that your doctor can spot during a routine eye exam. Your eyes may be able to indicate heart disease, cancer or tumors, thyroid problems, and even HIV and other autoimmune problems. 

The best way to decrease your risk of developing vision problems is to attend regular eye exams. Just like annual health checkups, these appointments ensure that your vision is healthy and check for any signs of infection, disease, or other issues. The sooner you spot vision problems, the easier it is to treat them and prevent vision loss.

Fact: Don’t ignore symptoms you’re experiencing.

Even if your symptoms seem minimal, or they appear and disappear quickly, this can be a sign of a more serious vision problem. If you lose vision in one eye—even just for a moment—you should call your eye care provider or go to the emergency room as soon as possible. It’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your eyes. Share any symptoms you’ve experienced, and be honest about your health history (smoking, diabetes, etc.) so we can provide the best care possible.

Fact: As you age, your vision will change.

As you age, the natural lens of your eye will lose transparency, making your vision less clear. This is what happens when you are diagnosed with cataracts—a condition that affects half of Americans over the age of 75.

However, you can slow the progression of cataracts or prevent premature cataracts by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, not smoking, and protecting your eyes from injuries. By visiting our office for regular exams, we can identify the best time for treatment and promote your clearest vision.