Everyone thinks of going to the eye doctor to get a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, but there are many other important reasons for seeing an optometrist or ophthalmologist on annual basis. There are several serious conditions that your eye professional will screen for during the exam.

Glaucoma

This condition is caused by an increase in the internal pressure of the eye due to the buildup of fluid. When the normal internal passages become blocked, the fluid can’t drain and pressure builds up inside the eye. Often, glaucoma develops with no obvious symptoms. For that reason, it’s important to have the internal pressure of your eyes measured on a yearly basis, which can be done by the professionals at Spectacle Shoppe Inc. and similar eye care clinics.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Everyone has dry eyes now and again, but for some people, the eye does not produce enough tears on a chronic basis, leading to eye damage. Dry eye can be caused by certain disease such as diabetes, by wearing contact lenses, or from some medications. Your eye care professional can prescribe medications that may increase tear production and/or place plugs in your tear ducts to slow the drainage of that natural tears you make.

Macular Degeneration

The macula is an area of the retina responsible for clear vision directly ahead of you. When this area of the eye begins to thin or break down, areas in the central part of your vision may lose clarity at first and then become dark or faded. Though there is no cure, early diagnosis and treatment can slow down its progress. For a comprehensive article on this topic, see more information from the Mayo Clinic website.

Cataracts

The clear lens of the eye is crucial to clear vision. A clouding of this lens is known as a cataract, of which there are many types. The classic symptoms of a cataract are blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to light and “halos” around lights. They can only be accurately diagnosed and treated by an eye care professional, usually with surgery.

This is not a comprehensive list of every condition that your eye professional might screen for during an exam, but four common situations that affect many people. Caught early, these four vision thieves can be treated or their progress slowed. So if you have not visited your friendly eye doctor in a while, make an appointment today.