Haven't Seen The Eye Doctor In A While? Not A Good Idea

By Author: John Farn
Total Articles: 2
Comment this article

Now would probably be an excellent time to book an appointment to see your eye doctor, if your attitudes are anywhere close to the typical person. That's because recent studies allege to show a disturbing level of ignorance in the general population about eye health. While 7 in 10 people insist that their eyes are in good shape, almost 100% of eye doctors dispute that. Doctors say that most people haven't been to an eye doctor in years, and only consider such an appointment necessary if they're experiencing a specific eye issue.Eye experts say that kind of attitude is flat out wrong and potentially dangerous. In fact they strongly suggest that eye exams should begin very early in life, from early childhood. The ideal scenario is to have small children checked from birth, with regular follow-ups. Parents should be vigilant and on the lookout for any number of signs and symptoms of a vision problem. Examples of this are when a child is rubbing his eyes constantly, or complaining of pain, squinting, sitting too close to the TV, or having an unusual sensitivity to light. Children have to be old enough to actually articulate ...
... that they're having a problem seeing something before they can have a visual acuity test. That usually happens around age 3.Getting to your local doctor for an eye exam can have multiple benefits, primarily related to early detection of disease. Not only can you be checked for the typical range of vision-related troubles and illnesses, but also for a wide range of other diseases. A good eye doctor's examination of your veins and arteries can detect up to 150 different conditions, often years before other symptoms manifest themselves. Examples are high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and even AIDS.As you get older your chances of being diagnosed with a vision-related problem increase, particularly if you're over 40. In recent years nearly 4.2 million Americans have been diagnosed with some kind of eye issue. That number has jumped since the year 2000, largely as a result of the continuing aging of the baby boomer generation. Macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts are all illnesses that can manifest themselves as you age. So too is one of the primary symptoms of diabetes - diabetic retinopathy.Diabetes happens to be one of the major causes of eye problems, due to an ongoing and serious spike in the disease in the past several years. It's now the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20 to 74.Cataracts have also become a common eye affliction. Marked by a clouding of the lenses of the eye, it will get progressively worse if left untreated, often leading to greatly blurred vision. But if it is diagnosed and treated in its early stages it is often very manageable, with little to no long-term problem with vision. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this is a disease of the old - because it isn't. People as young as their 40s have this condition; it is not only a disease of the elderly.If you're still unconvinced that making an appointment to see your eye doctor is important, know that regular check-ups, along with a healthy lifestyle, likely mean that you can avoid eye problems completely. Many eye disorders and diseases are totally preventable, especially those that are secondary to other diseases like diabetes. But healthy living is the key.If you're looking for an eye doctor in St. Louis, visit Clarkson Eye Care.