Four Reasons to Visit an Eye Doctor
Most people will only see an eye doctor when they're having trouble reading. However, this isn't the only reason why you should see an optometrist. Some eye conditions don't have obvious symptoms, and failure to catch the problems early can lead to deterioration of your eyesight. Also, severe conditions may be irreversible and permanently damage your eyes. To help protect your eyes, here are the reasons why you should visit an eye doctor.
1. Foreign Objects
When debris such as dust, stones, or glass chippings enters your eyes, the eyes may feel itchy or look teary. If this is the case, flush out the objects with water. Don't attempt to remove the objects with your fingers, as this may move the objects around, leading to further damage of eye tissue. For this reason, you should see an optometrist. The eye specialist can examine your eyes and identify the debris. After identifying the object, the doctor can safely remove the object from your eye and restore your eyesight.
2. Spots, Flashes, and Floaters
Flashes, spots, and floaters usually occur naturally in the eyes and aren't a cause for alarm. Their occurrence is due to the embedment of protein fragments and eye tissue on the vitreous, a gel-like substance present in the eye's interior. As you grow old, the vitreous gets more fluid-like, making the protein bits and tissue more visible. However, floaters that mainly come with flashes of light may signify severe eye problems such as retinal detachment. An eye doctor can diagnose and manage the early condition before blindness happens.
3. Eye Infection Symptoms
Eye infections can manifest in different ways such as inflamed and itchy eyelids, discoloration of the sclera (white part of the eye), and abnormal eye discharge. If you experience any of these issues, see an eye specialist for an examination right away. The signs show that you probably have an eye infection that the eye doctor needs to treat.
4. Pain
If you've been experiencing severe eye pain for some time, you need to visit an optometrist. The pain can be a sign of infection or injury. Sometimes, the pain may be due to severe conditions such as glaucoma. An eye doctor can help identify these conditions early and help you manage the disease to prevent vision loss.
Flashes, spots and floaters, foreign objects, pain, and eye infection symptoms are valid reasons that you should visit an optometrist. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit an eye doctor immediately.