Have your eyes checked at 40

Have your eyes checked at 40

Even if you don't have any vision problems, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends an eye disease screening at 40. Early signs of disease, such as vision changes, may appear at this time.

Some adults should not put off getting an eye exam. An ophthalmologist should see eye disease symptoms at any age. Do not stop seeing an ophthalmologist if you have an ongoing disease or injury. Maintain your current eyeglasses or contact lens examination appointments as well. People with risk factors for eye disease should not delay getting a baseline eye disease screening until they are 40. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of eye disease.

Early detection of eye diseases is critical. Potentially blinding eye problems often have a good outcome with early treatment. Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration are among these diseases. Cataracts are a common occurrence. When your natural lens in your eye becomes cloudy due to a cataract, things appear blurry, hazy, dull, or yellowish. Cataracts can be surgically removed.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects your optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits light signals to the brain, which allows you to see. Many people with glaucoma are unaware that they have it until irreversible vision loss occurs. This is because this disease frequently has no symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred.

Diabetes causes diabetic retinopathy, which affects the eyes. Blood vessels can be damaged by high blood sugar levels, resulting in swelling at the back of the eye. Sometimes the growth of abnormal new vessels can steal your vision by bleeding or forming scar tissue inside your eye. Effective treatments exist to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy-related blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration can cause you to lose your central vision, but your side vision will remain normal. Vision changes can happen over time, and you may not notice them immediately. Early diagnosis allows for treatment to slow or prevent further vision loss.

If you're over 40 and haven't had an eye exam in a while, make an appointment with an ophthalmologist today. It's a crucial step in keeping your eyes healthy and vision intact.