Roughly 60% of the world’s population requires vision correction, according to the Vision Impact Institute.1 That’s a lot of people, but the good news is 80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or corrected.2
As everything in our body, our vision changes over time. Usually gradually, which make it more difficult to notice. We need to maintain our eyes so that they function optimally. The best way to maintain your eyes is to schedule a yearly eye exam with your World of Vision optometrist. One of the clearest signs that you might need glasses is the inability to read an actual sign. But there are many other clues that can reveal if your powers of observation are fading.
- Frequent headaches: When the small muscles in the eye are forced to work harder, you will find yourself squinting or your eyes straining. This causes headaches and is a major sign that you may need glasses.
- Blurred vision: If your favourite book has become too fuzzy to read up close, you may be developing farsightedness or presbyopia. Difficulty reading street names while driving could indicate near-nearsightedness, while astigmatism causes confusion between similar numbers and letters at both distance and close-up.
- Eye rubbing: If you are rubbing your eyes, you may have eye fatigue or an eye infection. Continuous rubbing can cause damage to your eye’s structures. To prevent this, have your eyes examined as soon as possible.
- Seeing double: Double vision can lead to serious issues. If you have double vision, then there may be a problem with your cornea or the eye muscles. You need to see the optometrist if you experience these symptoms.
- It is difficult to see at night: If you are no longer able to see the dog in the yard at night, you may be experiencing signs of cataracts, which need to be examined as soon as possible.
- Eye strain or eye fatigue: Eye strain can be affected by various factors such as flu, allergies or not getting enough sleep. However, if you are experiencing pain and this pain lasts more than a few days, you need to get your eyes checked. If your eyes also to seem to get tired when watching TV or reading your book, it is time to make an appointment with your optometrist.
- Reading or computer work has become difficult: If you are finding it difficult to work on the computer or read your book, you may be experiencing signs of farsightedness.
- Squinting often: If you are often squinting, it might be because you are trying to reduce the light entering the eye and to reduce the size of the blurry image. This is often a sign of poor vision.
- You have difficulty with light adjustments: Does it take your eyes longer to adjust to seeing a bright light or after being in the dark for a while? It could mean that the muscles that help your iris contract and expand are weakening
- Seeing halos around lights: Seeing halos or circles around lights may be a sign that you are developing cataracts or a night vision problem. If the light is scattered or blurred, it is a sign that your eyes are struggling to focus properly.
While these signs don’t necessarily mean you have poor vision, they do indicate and eye complication – visit your World of Vision optometrist as soon as possible.
1“The Cost of Uncorrected Vision,” Jean-Félix Biosse-Duplan, The Vision Impact Institute, Oct. 24, 2014
2“Visual impairment and blindness,” World Health Organization, August 2014, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/
