Importance of a Visual Diagnosis
- It allows detecting diseases and identifying risk factors.
- Allows diagnosis and treatment of vision-related diseases
- Improves prognosis.
- Prevents negative evolution of vision changes
- It helps children’s development and learning.
- It can prevent irreversible damage, such as blindness.
How often should a vision test be done?
Adults (without diagnosed or known vision problems) should test their vision regularly
between 20 and 39 years old, at least three-six times during that period
from 40 years: once every 2 to 3 years
from 65 years: once every 1 to 2 years.
Diagnosed adults with vision problems should undergo an optometry consultation at least every two years. However, your Optometrist can advise you to do more regular surveillance.
Later, at the age of 40-50, when presbyopia occurs and we are unable to focus within a short distance, we should always go to an ophthalmology consultation to start screening for glaucoma.
At older ages, an annual observation by the ophthalmologist is recommended for screening for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration of age.
How can we prevent visual problems? Some warning signs:
- Getting closer to television
- Drowsiness when in activities to close
- Tiredness and eye pain
- Sudden loss of vision
- Red eyes after visual activity
- Tearing in intense visual activities
- Partial vision loss
- Visual field loss
- Hitting objects frequently
- Low school performance
- Spots in the field of view
- A sensation that a dark curtain has been installed across your field of vision
- Sudden pain in the eyes, blurred vision, redness, nausea and vomiting
- A gradual or sudden reduction in your field of view
- A sensation of irritation, pain on the eye surface, watering and redness
- Double vision, two images or “ghost” images