If your eyesight doesn’t bother you, do you still need to have eye tests?
The short answer is: yes.
How often should you have an eye test?Credit:Shutterstock
“There are many eye diseases [without] a lot of symptoms,” says Sydney-based ophthalmologist, Dr Dan Polya. “It is worth checking the eyes at an early stage to make a difference to your eye health [down the track].”
A typical eye test assesses a person's central vision (the ability to read and recognise faces), side vision, and pressure in the eye (a risk factor for glaucoma). Movement of the eye, which is affected in eye muscle disorders, is also tested.
“The most common [eye conditions looked for] are refractive error or the need for the glasses, cataracts (when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the western world," Dr Polya explains. "Treatment for macular degeneration can help slow down loss of vision.”
So, when is it time to book in? In part, it's an age thing. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a baseline eye test at age 40, Dr Polya says, adding that, if something comes up as abnormal, "follow-ups after this might be more frequent".
Over 65s should have an eye check every one to two years to detect the increased likelihood of eye disease that develops in later life.
“A classic example is glaucoma, which has no symptoms, and causes damage to peripheral vision," Dr Polya says. "Once this damage occurs it can’t be improved, so it’s important to pick it up really early to slow its progression.”
Diabetics require more regular eyes checks to look for diabetic retinopathy – damage to parts of the eye, particularly the retina, the eye’s innermost layer.
“If this is picked up early it can be treated before visual loss occurs, but if picked up late it’s difficult to treat.”
Certain medications such as Plaquenil for rheumatoid arthritis can also cause eye damage, and patients on those medications require eye checks to test for ocular (eye) toxicity, although this is fairly uncommon, Dr Polya says.
Signs that you should get your eyes checked – even if you’re under 40
Regardless of your age, blurred vision, flashing lights before your eyes, sudden onset of new floating spots in the eye, red eyes or eye pain are all reasons to see an eye specialist, Dr Polya says.
Other factors that can impact eye health
Your parents weren't lying when they said staring at the sun was bad for your eyes.
“This can cause a type of permanent damage to the retina,” Dr Polya says. “Ultraviolet light is associated with certain eye disorders including pterygium [pronounced "te-ridgium", a growth that starts on the clear tissue of the eye], and certain types of cancers on the surface of the inside of the eye, which fortunately are quite rare.”
But, you may be surprised to learn there is little to suggest that technology use is having an effect on our vision. While office workers might present to an eye specialist complaining of dry or strained eyes, Dr Polya says there is no evidence that screen use can cause any permanent irreversible damage to the eyes.
“For patients with a dry eye tendency who find it worsens with computer screen use, artificial lubricant drops can help,” he says, adding that those who do experience eye strain might want to try this handy tip.
“Try the 20:20:20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet [six metres] into the distance for 20 seconds.”
For more information visit Healthshare, a joint venture with Fairfax to improve the health of regional Australians.
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