Clear, healthy vision helps kids do better in school and allows them to enjoy sports and activities. Keep reading to learn more about whether kids need to have eye exams.

When Do Children Need Eye Exams?

Eye care is an important part of health care for people of all ages, including children.  Children should have periodic vision screenings, which they may get as part of a well-child visit or at school.

These screenings are great for identifying when kids might need glasses to correct a refractive error. However, they typically don’t screen for other eye health conditions.

Visiting an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam can identify eye issues that a vision screening doesn’t spot. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has guidelines about how often your child should undergo vision screenings or comprehensive eye exams based on their age:

Newborn and Infant Screenings

All babies should have an eye screening as newborns and another screening before their first birthday. These tests include non-invasive screenings that only take a few minutes and don’t require feedback from the child.

The first test is checking the “red reflex.” Their provider shines a bright light into each eye to see if it shows a red reflex, like “the red eye” in a flash photo.

Then, they will check blinking and pupil response and check for proper eye alignment and movement.

Toddler Eye Exams

Children younger than school age (around 3-5 years old) should see an ophthalmologist at least once to screen for vision issues common in early childhood, such as farsightedness or an eye turn. An eye exam is especially important if the child has an underlying condition that increases the risk of eye problems or a family history of vision issues such as strabismus. 

These exams are non-invasive and painless. Children may have to respond to simple verbal cues like “Look at my hand, but don’t turn your head.”

The testing can identify conditions such as:

• Strabismus, or misaligned eyes
• Amblyopia, or “lazy eye”
• Refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
• Other focusing problems

Screenings for School-Aged Children

For children 5 years and older, it’s recommended that they undergo a vision screening annually. Many children receive yearly vision screenings at school or during their annual well-child exam.

These exams can reveal refractive errors that indicate a need for glasses. Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a common vision problem with children of this age.

If your child fails a vision screening or complains of headaches or eye strain, you should schedule a comprehensive eye exam with their ophthalmologist at EyeHealth Northwest. Other signs of vision challenges are difficulty learning to read, clumsiness, or sitting very close to the TV screen.

Even if they are not experiencing vision problems currently, children with certain conditions such as Down syndrome or learning disabilities should undergo a comprehensive eye exam at this age. At a comprehensive eye exam, their eye doctor will use special testing like pupil dilation to examine for signs of eye conditions.

Children who wear glasses should also see their eye doctor every year to make sure their prescription is up to date. Children often have changes to their vision over time and need adjustments to their glasses to keep their vision clear.

Is your child due for an eye exam or vision screening? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

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According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there were over 10,000 emergency room visits for firework-related injuries in 2022. 16% of those injuries involved the eyes.

The vast majority of fireworks injuries happen around July 4th. If you’re planning to set off fireworks this summer, follow a few safety precautions to make sure your eyes stay safe.

Keep reading to learn seven tips to keep your eyes safe during Fireworks Eye Safety Month!

Only Use Fireworks Labeled For Consumer Use

Professional fireworks contain more explosive materials than the ones for consumer use. You should not attempt to buy or use professional fireworks if you don’t have the requisite training.

Follow the Directions on the Fireworks

Carefully read the safety guidelines for any type of consumer fireworks. Make sure you understand how the firework will ignite and follow the correct steps to minimize the risk of injury.

If a firework doesn’t explode, don’t touch it. They should be thoroughly saturated with water and disposed of according to local regulations. 

Use Protective Eyewear

Wearing safety goggles or safety glasses can protect your eyes from sparks or debris. Choose eyewear that wraps around the side of your face for optimal protection. 

Keep a Bucket of Water Nearby While Setting off Fireworks

Have water nearby whenever you use fireworks. A bucket of water can be a safe repository if you need to quickly drop a hot item.

You can also use water to quickly cool burns. Have a fire extinguisher handy to put out flames. 

Only Adults Should Handle Fireworks

There are no fireworks that are safe for kids to set off. Even sparklers can get so hot that children injure themselves or drop them.

Children should never handle fireworks. 

Keep a Safe Distance

Even if you are only watching, keep back from any fireworks as they’re being set off. Popular consumer fireworks like bottle rockets can veer off course and injure bystanders.

Stay a safe distance back and consider wearing protective eyewear.

Learn First Aid for Eyes

If you do experience an eye injury, call 911 or go to the hospital. You should also know the best practices for treating it:

• Do not rub your eyes
• Do not rinse your eyes
• Do not apply pressure
• Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye
• Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen unless directed by a doctor

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to leave them to the professionals! Watching a fireworks display with friends and family is a great way to get your fireworks fix.

You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. 

Take care of your eyes on the Fourth of July and all year long by getting regular eye exams.  Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

The post Follow These 7 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Safe During Fireworks Eye Safety Month appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

A comprehensive eye exam is a medical exam that includes important screenings to detect serious health conditions like macular degeneration or glaucoma. Most adults should have an eye exam every year, particularly people over forty or people with an increased risk of eye conditions.

Keep reading to learn why it’s important for you to visit the eye doctor if you have clear vision!

Do I Need An Eye Exam Every Year Even If I Don’t Have Vision Changes?

If you are under forty, don’t wear glasses, and aren’t at increased risk for any eye conditions, you may not need eye exams every year. You can ask your eye doctor how often you should have comprehensive eye exams.

If you do wear glasses or contacts, you should see your eye doctor even if you don’t think you need to change your prescription. For example, you may need to get your prescription confirmed each year before you order new contact lenses.

It’s also wise to make sure that the surface of your eyes is healthy and that it’s safe to continue wearing contacts. 

Are There Any Hidden Problems An Eye Exam Could Detect?

Many serious eye diseases don’t cause symptoms right away, and an eye exam is the only way to detect them. They can develop slowly without you realizing anything has changed with your eyes.

These conditions include:

• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Glaucoma

By the time you notice vision changes from any of these conditions, it’s a signal that the problem has progressed significantly. The changes can’t be reversed. 

Eye exams can detect the earliest phases of all these conditions. Your eye doctor can see the physical changes to the eye during a routine eye exam.

Once the condition has been diagnosed, you can begin treatment and prevent vision loss in the future.  

Can An Eye Doctor Tell Me If I’m At Risk For Eye Disease?

An eye doctor can help you determine if you are at an increased risk of certain eye conditions. During your exam, they will ask about your health history and any family history of eye disease, such as glaucoma or cataracts.

That will give them a starting point to assess your eye health risks. After discussing your health history, your eye doctor will perform an eye exam to identify any possible eye conditions.

A dilated pupil exam allows your eye doctor to examine all the structures of the eye and identify signs of eye disease, which is the most reliable way to assess your risks. 

What Happens in an Eye Exam?

Eye exams are non-invasive and don’t cause any pain. Most of the screenings involve your eye doctor using special lights and magnifying tools to look closely at the entire structure of your eye. 

They will use special eye drops to temporarily dilate your pupils so they can see the interior of your eye more clearly. They will also use numbing drops before using a special instrument to test your intraocular pressure.

In addition, they will ask you to read an eye chart to check your vision and perform a refraction to determine a prescription for glasses or contacts. The entire exam usually takes less than an hour.

Many health insurance plans cover the cost of an eye exam, though you may have to pay out-of-pocket for refraction. Your insurance company can explain your coverage. 

Is it time for you to come in for a comprehensive eye exam? Schedule an appointment at Eyehealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

The post Do I Need To Visit the Eye Doctor if My Vision is Clear? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Early detection is always the best form of defense against disease. This is why your eye doctor does such a thorough and comprehensive eye exam at each visit.

Keep reading to learn what eye doctors test for during your annual eye exam!

What Happens During an Eye Exam?

There are many important tests that happen as a part of an annual eye exam. They are performed to either gauge the clarity of your vision or detect possible eye conditions. 

Some of the most important tests during an eye exam are:

Visual Acuity Testing

This is the test that most people think of as the eye chart test. A standardized chart called a Snellen chart is used at a distance several feet away. 

Visual acuity is usually determined in two ways:

• Uncorrected, meaning that you’ll view the chart without glasses or contacts.
• Best corrected, meaning with the best possible glasses or contact lens prescription.

During the visual acuity test, you’ll cover one eye and read aloud the smallest line of letters you can make out on the chart. At the top of the chart, the size of the letters will be easy to read. 

As you progress, they grow smaller and get more challenging to read. After one eye is tested, that eye is covered so the other eye can be tested. 

This will test your distance vision. You may also be asked to read letters or numbers from a chart held close to your face to test your near vision.

Refraction

For this test, your eye doctor will place a device called a phoropter in front of you, which allows them to place lenses of different strengths in front of your eyes. You’ll look through the lenses and determine which strength lens makes it easiest to read the chart.

The refraction test helps your eye doctor determine the best glasses or contact lens prescription for you. 

Slit Lamp Examination

Using a special magnifying device called a slit lamp, your eye doctor will examine the front part of the eye, including your eyelids, cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, and iris. With this test, they can look for any abnormalities.

Eye Pressure Testing

This is also called tonometry. Higher than normal eye pressure is often an indicator of glaucoma, a serious condition that requires treatment. 

This test is essential to ensure your eye pressure is within the normal range.

Comprehensive Eye Test

Various other tests can help your eye doctor spot early vision problems. Your eye doctor may also test your peripheral vision and your eye muscles.

Using a penlight or other small object, your eye doctor will ask you to follow the light to see if you can look in different directions, which will indicate the functioning of your eye muscles. The penlight is also used to examine your pupils to see if they constrict in response to light. 

Eye drops will also be given to you to dilate your pupils so your eye doctor can look at the back of the eye where the retina is. The retina, nearby blood vessels, and optic nerve will be examined. 

Always Share Information and Voice Concerns

When you see your eye doctor, be sure to share information about your family health history, any concerns or problems you may be experiencing, and any other chronic conditions you may have. Certain medications put you at higher risk of developing certain eye conditions. 

By being open about your overall health, you can help your eye doctor preserve and maintain your good vision.

Is it time for you to have an eye exam? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, Oregon, today!

The post What Does My Eye Doctor Test For At My Annual Eye Exam? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

You may wonder how often you should schedule these appointments. The answer depends on the individual, their age, genetic factors, and whether or not blurry vision due to refractive errors is present. 

Keep reading to learn more about how often you should schedule an appointment to see your eye doctor!

Eye Exams for Children

Early vision screening is performed during standard checkups if no vision problems are present at birth. 

If and when it’s indicated, children should have a comprehensive eye exam if there are concerns related to their vision. 

Newborn to Toddler

In the hospital, every infant is checked for basic indicators of eye health. 

Well-child visits with a pediatrician are scheduled between the ages of six and twelve months, and at that time, the eyes will be examined. 

Between twelve and thirty-six months, the pediatrician will again look for signs that your child has healthy eye development. In the event of a problem, your child will be referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist. 

Toddler to School Age

Vision and eye alignment should be checked in every child between three and five years of age. This can be done by a pediatrician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist. 

Visual acuity and alignment screening should be scheduled at age five. At that point, a child can identify numbers and letters and read an eye chart, making the diagnosis of problems easier. 

5 Years and Older

Children age five and older should have an eye exam every couple of years unless they have a refractive error. If they have a refractive error, like nearsightedness, they should visit their eye doctor more frequently to ensure their prescription is up to date.

Eye Exams for Adults

If you don’t have a refractive error such as astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia, or presbyopia, and there are no other health issues, you can follow these guidelines.

In Your 20s and 30s

Adults starting at age twenty should have a baseline eye exam at some point in their twenties. One appointment is typically enough if no vision problems are diagnosed. 

Schedule another one when you reach your thirties. During that decade, two eye exams are recommended.

However, if any vision or eye problems occur, such as an infection, injury, eye pain, or if you see sudden floaters or flashes of light, schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist immediately. These could be signs of serious eye conditions. 

A family history of eye disease or diabetes will require a schedule of routine checkups to stay on top of healthy vision. If this is part of your health history, let your doctor know. 

In Your 40s to Age 54

Get a complete eye examination by the time you turn forty. At this time, changes in vision or early signs of disease often appear. 

An early diagnosis means treatment can begin right after the onset of symptoms. Save your sight by responding immediately to any concerns. Don’t let vision problems develop or worsen. 

Diabetes, a family history of eye disease, and high blood pressure require regular monitoring, including regular comprehensive eye exams. Otherwise healthy adults in their forties up to age fifty-four can schedule eye exams every two to four years. 

At fifty-five, schedule one every one to three years, depending on your eye doctor’s recommendation.

At Age 65 and Older

Have your eyes checked annually. Age increases the risk for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. 

Is it time for you or your child to have a comprehensive eye exam? Schedule an appointment at Eyehealth Northwest in Happy Valley, OR, today!

The post How Often Should I Schedule Appointments to See My Eye Doctor? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

For this reason, regular visits to your eye doctor become even more important. In September, the AAO celebrates Healthy Aging Month. 

Keep reading to learn tips to help your eyes stay healthy during Healthy Aging Month!

Look Into Healthy Habits

Some of the things that keep your body healthy and youthful are things that can help maintain your vision. It’s best to make wise choices regarding eating, sleeping, exercise, and other lifestyle habits. 

High blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes affect the entire body, and your eyes aren’t exempt. If you have these health conditions, a change in vision, such as blurriness, may be a warning sign of either high blood pressure or high blood sugar. 

If you’re experiencing this, see your eye immediately. Both conditions can be managed with careful attention to exercise, diet, and medication.

Eating For Your Eyes 

As you grow older, you’re at greater risk for age-related macular degeneration, which is the deterioration of the part of the retina called the macula. Your macula is responsible for the central portion of your vision. 

The macula is made up of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids in the same group as the beta-carotene found in carrots. Used by the body to make vitamin A, carotenoids are essential in your diet. 

Eat them daily, and you may help prevent or delay AMD from affecting your eyesight. One of the best sources of lutein is dark leafy greens. Try spinach, Swiss chard, and kale. 

Other good sources are corn, egg yolk, romaine, zucchini, broccoli, brussels sprouts, peas, and kiwi. The best sources for zeaxanthin are corn, orange bell peppers, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, oranges, and mango.

Cooking vegetables can increase the absorption of lutein and zeaxanthin, and adding fats helps absorption. If you only have time for one change to your diet, make it eggs. Eggs may be the most absorbable source of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Sleeping For Your Eyes

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine stresses that, like your brain and body, your eyes heal as you sleep. Get less sleep, and you’ll feel it. 

A night of poor sleep may cause your eyes to produce fewer tears, leading to dry, itchy, or bloodshot eyes. This makes your eyes more prone to eye infections. 

Increased sensitivity to light or blurry vision can occur. Adults should get seven or more hours of sleep each night. 

You’ll feel better and look better when you’re well rested.

Exercising For Your Eyes

You don’t need to be a weekend warrior to preserve your sight. Slow, steady, and gentle are what you should aim for. 

Walking, yoga, pilates, and stretching are all excellent choices. Make them a daily routine, and your eyes will benefit. 

Quitting For Your Eyes

If you’re a smoker, it’s time to give up the habit. Reducing your alcohol consumption is recommended; quitting drinking is ideal.

In the same way that your skin shows the ravages of smoking and drinking, these habits can also harm your eyes. It’s best to wean yourself from both, and you’ll see how good you look and feel.

Do you want to learn more ways you can help keep your eyes healthy? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Happy Valley, OR, today!

The post Follow These Tips For Healthy Eyes During Healthy Aging Month appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Next time you visit your eye doctor for an exam, take this list with you. The answers will put your mind at ease and help you decide on the next steps for your improved outlook on life, especially regarding vision.

Keep reading to learn four questions to ask your ophthalmologist at your eye exam!

1. What is Causing my Vision to Change Every Year?

Like everything else about your body, your vision changes as you age. From childhood to adulthood, your eyes will change.

Once you reach adulthood, typically, you reach a more stable state. If you have myopia, also known as nearsightedness, your eyes will still change, with the rate of change being different for everyone. 

If you have good vision, you may not see any other changes in your sight until you reach middle age. Around the age of forty, you might notice some blurriness in your close-up vision. 

This change in vision is often presbyopia, which is the age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects. Presbyopia is very common.

It happens to the majority of adults and is a normal outcome of getting older. To combat these changes, your eye doctor may instruct you to wear over-the-counter or prescription reading glasses.

2. Is My Dry Eye Something Worth Worrying About?

Many activities can dry out your eyes. For example, sitting too close to ventilation with hot or cold air blowing on you, especially your face, can dry out your eyes. 

Spending hours on the computer reduces your frequency of blinking and can also cause dry eye symptoms. If you occasionally experience dry eye symptoms, it may be expected and not anything to worry about. 

However, if your eyes are frequently red, itchy, burning, tearing, or sensitive to light, you could have dry eye syndrome. Chronic dry eye is a medical condition that should be managed so that you can stay comfortable with clear vision. 

If your eyes are frequently dry, let your eye doctor know so they can determine the root cause and develop a treatment plan to improve your symptoms. 

3. Should I Try Contact Lenses?

If you’re someone who doesn’t like having anything in or near your eyes, you’ve likely relied on prescription eyeglasses if you have difficulty seeing. Maybe you’ve heard a parent or older relative talk about the discomfort of contact lenses. 

Contact lens technology is constantly improving the comfort and weight of lenses. Daily wear disposable lenses are the lightest and easiest contact lenses to adjust to.

Since they’re meant for single use only, once you take them out of your eye, they can’t be put back in, so you’ll have to wear a fresh new pair. There’s also much less risk of infection with daily lenses. 

If you need vision correction but are tired of the restraints of glasses, ask about contact lenses at your next visit.

4. Am I a Good LASIK Candidate?

If you are eighteen or older, have not had changes in your vision in over a year, and are in good health, you may be a candidate for vision correction surgery. If you are interested in learning more about how LASIK or other types of permanent vision correction can improve your life and provide you with greater visual freedom, ask your eye doctor if you are a candidate.

Is it time for you to have an eye exam? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Happy Valley, OR, today!

The post Four Questions to Ask Your Ophthalmologist at Your Eye Exam appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

Keep reading to learn more about glaucoma and glaucoma awareness month.

How Do You know if You Have Glaucoma? 

Regular eye exams that check for glaucoma are critical. That’s because most people who have glaucoma don’t have any symptoms.

There is no cure for glaucoma, but if detected early by your eye doctor, there are ways to manage it. Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma can save your eyesight.

But, the only way to know you have it and get timely treatment is by getting diagnosed by your eye doctor. To diagnose glaucoma, they use a routine test called tonometry to test the pressure in your eyes.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a progressive and degenerative disease that affects your optic nerve. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the country.

If you have glaucoma, it is causing the pressure inside your eyes to increase. Intraocular pressure or IOP goes up when eye fluid can’t drain out of your eye correctly.

Glaucoma stems from blocks or pinches in your eye’s drainage network. Glaucoma causes fluid to build in your eye as it develops, resulting in increased pressure.

Once this pressure gets high enough, it can press your optic nerve and damage it. Optic nerve damage is permanent, and there is no way to heal it after it occurs.

Your optic nerve connects your retina to your brain and light gets sent down it in the form of nerve impulses, which your brain then interprets.

Your optic nerve is vital to your eyesight. Light cannot reach your brain without it, and you cannot see.

Without treatment, you cannot prevent vision loss from glaucoma. And vision loss from it is irreversible.

Who is at Risk For Glaucoma?

There are several risk factors associated with glaucoma. It is often hereditary and common in some families, certain ethnic groups, and older adults.

Risk factors include:

• A family history of glaucoma
• African American, Hispanic, or Asian American heritage
• Being older than forty
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Poor blood circulation
• Migraines
• Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia, or lupus
• Extreme farsightedness or nearsightedness
• Long-term use of steroid medications

What Causes Glaucoma?

When checking for glaucoma, your eye physician will first check your eye pressure. The most common indicator of glaucoma is the buildup of IOP due to excess fluid in your eye.

Eye pressure remains normal when the fluid drains appropriately. If it cannot drain, pressure will build in your eye.

The increase in pressure against the optic nerve can damage it and lead to vision loss. However, some people with normal eye pressure can also develop glaucoma.

The cause of glaucoma in people with healthy IOP levels is not well understood. But it is treatable like the other forms.

What Are The Types of Glaucoma?

The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. It occurs when the fluid in the eye drains slowly, raising IOP.

The other common type of glaucoma is angle-closure glaucoma. It occurs when your iris bulges forward to block the drainage angle.

This block stops the fluid from circulating in your eye and increases IOP. Both forms of glaucoma are manageable.

Eye drops, oral medication, and medical procedures can all help keep your IOP low. But, the only way to undergo these essential treatments is with an official diagnosis.

Eye exams are the most critical component of preventing vision loss from glaucoma. Schedule an appointment at Eye Health Northwest in Portland, OR, to protect your eyes!

The post What Do You Know About Glaucoma Awareness Month? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

September is dedicated to educating people about healthy aging. Keep reading to learn about the most common eye conditions and the importance of eye exams!

The Warning Signs of Cataracts

When it comes to aging eyes, cataracts are incredibly common. Almost everyone will end up with cataracts as they age. 

Cataracts occur as proteins in the eye clump together. This causes blurry or clouded vision. There are many warning signs of cataracts that you should be aware of. They include:

Blurry Vision:

When a patient has cataracts, they can cause blurry vision, and make lights have more glare. Cataracts can also cause colors to look duller. 

Seeing Halos: 

Another common symptom of cataracts is if you see halos. This most commonly occurs at night while driving. 

Difficulty Focusing on Details:

With cataracts, you may notice that it becomes more difficult to focus on details. This could make activities like cooking, watching television, reading, and sewing more difficult. 

Many people consider cataract surgery when they can no longer complete these activities.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. To see well, you need the optic nerve working. 

Damage to the optic nerve usually occurs because of abnormally high intraocular pressure. As there are different types of glaucoma, they come with different signs. 

Some kinds of glaucoma have symptoms, but the most common kind does not. This is chronic open-angle glaucoma. 

Glaucoma is also known as the secret thief of sight, since it may not have any symptoms. The effects of glaucoma can be so minimal that you might not notice a change in your vision until it’s advanced. 

Depending on the type and stage of your glaucoma, the signs and symptoms vary.

If you start noticing vision changes, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. When glaucoma is not treated, it will lead to eventual blindness.  

About 15% of people with glaucoma experience blindness in at least one eye within 20 years. This is even after starting treatment. 

It’s important to catch glaucoma early because its effects are irreversible. Any vision lost because of glaucoma cannot be regained. 

This is part of the reason why regular eye exams are so important! Your doctor will measure your eye pressure to watch it in case of a change. 

This will help them make a diagnosis early on and provide you with proper treatment. If glaucoma is diagnosed early, you can delay or prevent vision loss.

The Importance of Eye Exams

As you age, it is important to get regular eye exams. Age impacts the decision to dilate your eyes. 

Patients who are over 40 have a higher risk of getting eye diseases. An example of this is cataracts. 

As you age, there is a higher probability that you’ll get cataracts. This increased risk makes it even more important to get your eyes dilated. 

Adults should get eye exams every two years until the age of 64, and then it should be annually for adults 65+. By the age of 80, half of all adults 80+ will have cataracts. 

For people 60+, glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness. It is possible for anyone to get glaucoma. It is more common in aging adults. 

Do you think it is time for a comprehensive eye exam? Our doctors are ready to help and educate you about how to keep your eyes healthy. 

Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Hillsboro, OR today!

The post Did You Know September Is Healthy Aging Month? appeared first on Eye Health Northwest.

1. Blurry Vision

Finding it difficult to see signs in the distance? Has reading your favorite book become too challenging because your vision is blurry? These are common signs that your vision has changed. 

You could be becoming near or farsighted. If objects near and far are hard to see, you could be developing astigmatism. Making sure you rest your eyes and are hydrated can help if you experience minor blurry vision.

2. Problems Looking at the Computer

Most of us use a computer quite frequently. But when it is hard to see, you should try the 20-20-20 rule. 

Try looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds about every 20 minutes. If you still have problems, book an appointment with your eye doctor.

3. Problems Seeing at Night

If you’re finding it harder to see at night, this could mean you are developing cataracts. It could also be a sign of other vision problems. 

You should see your eye doctor so they can determine what is causing your problems seeing at night.

4. Difficulty Transitioning from Bright Places to Dark Places

Sometimes it can take longer for your eyes to adjust from being in a dark movie theater to the bright outdoors. If you find it difficult to transition, it could mean the muscles that help the iris are weakening. This is something that happens as we age.

5. Eye Strain or Fatigue

Your eyes can become tired when you have blurry vision, squint a lot, or need to blink to see objects clearly. Your eyes can also become tired when reading, driving, writing or looking at screens. 

Taking breaks can help, but if these feelings of strain or fatigue occur often, see your eye doctor.

6. Headaches

Having headaches often can mean your cornea and lens are struggling to focus. When this happens, the smaller muscles have to work harder. 
This causes eye strain which can result in headaches. Squinting can cause headaches too. 

7. Double Vision

Experiencing double vision can be an indicator that there are problems with your cornea or eye muscles. It can also be a sign of cataracts. 
This is not normal, so see your eye doctor if you experience double vision regularly. 

8. Your Contacts or Glasses Do Not Help

Having glasses or contacts should help your vision. If you wear your glasses or contacts and you don’t feel like you can see, that’s a problem. 

Wearing a prescription that’s out of date can cause eye strain or fatigue. You should see your eye doctor as soon as possible to get an updated prescription. 

If you’ve been suffering from these symptoms for a long time, it’s definitely time for an eye exam. Vision conditions usually develop over time, but some do happen quickly. 

Getting your eyes checked is the only way to keep your eyes healthy.

Need to book an eye exam for you and your family? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR today!

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