Having to wear glasses for the first time due to presbyopia turns out to be a natural part of aging for most of us. But the stress and anxiety experienced by one woman while trying to have its symptoms diagnosed is not.
“A Doctor of Optometry in our office saw a female patient who had disabling headaches and blurred vision,” says Doctor of Optometry Richard Kort. “She first went to a family physician, who ordered a series of tests, including a CAT scan, to rule out a brain tumor or aneurysm. Months later she came into our office for a comprehensive eye exam. A simple pair of reading glasses got rid of her symptoms. But the entire process took months and seriously affected her quality of life.”
Dr. Kort says the unnecessary anxiety the patient experienced drives home the importance of seeing a Doctor of Optometry if you are experiencing blurred vision or headaches – symptoms that can be related to vision problems, such as presbyopia (literally “aging eye” in Greek). Doctors recommend that adults under age 65 have a comprehensive eye exam every two years, and seniors annually.
Other symptoms of presbyopia include eye fatigue, difficulty reading in dim light, and having to hold reading material at arm’s length. People with a history of good vision are typically the most surprised when symptoms of this naturally occurring process begin, usually around the age of 40.
But while eyeglasses are an inevitable fact of life for most of us, not all glasses are created equal. Buying “cheater” lenses – the inexpensive glasses often purchased in drug stores without a proper prescription – may be tempting, but other factors need to be considered for proper vision care. Cheaters don’t take into account the wearer’s preferred reading position and angle, or that most people need different magnification strengths for each eye to avoid eye strain and fatigue.
“Using cheaters may reduce the amount of time someone can read comfortably, compared with prescription reading glasses,” says Dr. Kort.“Prescription reading glasses don’t have to be expensive. The important thing is that, if you’re having difficulty reading, you should see a Doctor of Optometry.”
Eye exams need to be regular:
“A Doctor of Optometry in our office saw a female patient who had disabling headaches and blurred vision,” says Doctor of Optometry Richard Kort. “She first went to a family physician, who ordered a series of tests, including a CAT scan, to rule out a brain tumor or aneurysm. Months later she came into our office for a comprehensive eye exam. A simple pair of reading glasses got rid of her symptoms. But the entire process took months and seriously affected her quality of life.”
Dr. Kort says the unnecessary anxiety the patient experienced drives home the importance of seeing a Doctor of Optometry if you are experiencing blurred vision or headaches – symptoms that can be related to vision problems, such as presbyopia (literally “aging eye” in Greek). Doctors recommend that adults under age 65 have a comprehensive eye exam every two years, and seniors annually.
Other symptoms of presbyopia include eye fatigue, difficulty reading in dim light, and having to hold reading material at arm’s length. People with a history of good vision are typically the most surprised when symptoms of this naturally occurring process begin, usually around the age of 40.
But while eyeglasses are an inevitable fact of life for most of us, not all glasses are created equal. Buying “cheater” lenses – the inexpensive glasses often purchased in drug stores without a proper prescription – may be tempting, but other factors need to be considered for proper vision care. Cheaters don’t take into account the wearer’s preferred reading position and angle, or that most people need different magnification strengths for each eye to avoid eye strain and fatigue.
“Using cheaters may reduce the amount of time someone can read comfortably, compared with prescription reading glasses,” says Dr. Kort.“Prescription reading glasses don’t have to be expensive. The important thing is that, if you’re having difficulty reading, you should see a Doctor of Optometry.”
Eye exams need to be regular:
- Children should have their first complete eye exam between six and nine months of age, another between ages 2 and 5, and yearly after they start school.
- Adults 20-39 years old should have an eye exam every two to three years.
- Adults 40-64 years old should have an eye exam every two years.
- Those over age 65 or people with diabetes or a history of eye disease in their family should have yearly exams, or as recommended by a Doctor of Optometry.
Routine eye exams by a Doctor of Optometry not only ensure good vision and eye health, but peace of mind. For more information or to book an appointment, please call us at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com.
If you are having trouble with your vision like blur subjects or headache for a long time, it's time you go and see vision doctor 83646. You should get your eyes checked at least onec in a year to protect eyesight.
ReplyDelete