Eye Care & Vision Health: 6 Signs You Need an Eye Checkup Now

Six Signs You Need an Eye Check-up Now

1. Blurred or reduced vision

Difficulty reading signs, recognising faces or seeing clearly at distance or near suggests a refractive error such as short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hypermetropia), astigmatism or, after 40, presbyopia (age-related difficulty with near vision). Sudden blurring or progressive loss may point to cataract, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration or other conditions.

2. Frequent headaches, eye strain or tired eyes

Persistent headaches around the forehead or eyes, burning, watering or heaviness after screen use are signs of digital eye strain or uncorrected vision. Squinting, rubbing eyes or sitting close to the screen are clues, especially in children.

3. Seeing floaters, flashes of light or a curtain over vision

A few floaters are usually harmless, but a sudden shower of new floaters, flashing lights or a dark shadow spreading across vision can signal a retinal tear or detachment. This is an emergency because early treatment can save sight.

4. Halos around lights, difficulty with night driving or glare

Cataract, in which the natural lens becomes cloudy, commonly causes glare, halos, faded colours and trouble seeing at night. Dry eyes and corneal problems can also cause similar symptoms.

5. Red, painful, itchy or watery eyes

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) can be viral, bacterial or allergic. A painful red eye with reduced vision, light sensitivity or a hazy cornea could be a serious infection, uveitis or acute glaucoma and needs urgent attention. Contact lens wearers with pain or redness should remove lenses and see an eye doctor promptly.

6. Loss of side vision, double vision or a family or medical history of eye disease

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and gradually narrows peripheral vision, often without symptoms until late. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high short-sightedness, thyroid disease, a family history of glaucoma or those over 40 should have regular screening even without symptoms. Double vision can result from nerve, muscle or neurological problems and should be assessed quickly.

Common Eye Conditions

Refractive errors. Blurred vision corrected with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery such as LASIK once vision is stable.

Cataract. Clouding of the lens, most often age-related, treated with a short surgery in which the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens. It is one of the safest and most effective operations.

Glaucoma. A group of conditions in which raised pressure and nerve damage cause permanent loss of vision. Early detection allows treatment with eye drops, laser or surgery to protect the remaining sight.

Diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels of the retina. It is a leading cause of preventable blindness and often silent in early stages. Annual retinal screening is essential for everyone with diabetes.

Age-related macular degeneration. Damage to the central retina causing distorted or blurred central vision, mostly in older adults.

Dry eye disease. Burning, grittiness and watering from poor tear quality or quantity, common with screen use, air conditioning and ageing.

Conjunctivitis and styes. Common infections and inflammations of the eyelids and surface of the eye.

Amblyopia (lazy eye) and squint in children. Treating these early, before about age 7 to 8, gives the best results.

How Often Should You Have an Eye Examination?

• Children: a check at birth, in preschool (age 3 to 4) and before school, then every one to two years or as advised. Children cannot always tell you they cannot see.
• Adults 20 to 39: every two to three years if there are no problems, or yearly if you wear glasses or have risk factors.
• Adults 40 to 64: every one to two years, including pressure checks for glaucoma and a dilated retinal exam where appropriate.
• 65 and over: every year.
• People with diabetes: at least once a year, or more often as advised, and at diagnosis. Women with diabetes who become pregnant need additional checks.
• Anyone with symptoms or a family history: as soon as possible.

What Happens During an Eye Examination

An eye test is painless. It may include a vision check using a chart, measurement of refractive error, testing of eye movements, a slit lamp examination of the front of the eye, measurement of eye pressure, and examination of the retina and optic nerve, often after dilating drops that blur vision for a few hours. Imaging such as OCT or field testing may be added if needed. Do not drive after dilation, and bring sunglasses.

Everyday Habits to Protect Your Eyes

1. 1Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes of screen time, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
2. 2Blink often and consider lubricating drops if your eyes feel dry, as advised.
3. 3Position screens properly, at arm's length with the top at or just below eye level, and reduce glare.
4. 4Use adequate lighting when reading or working.
5. 5Wear sunglasses with UV protection outdoors and a hat in strong sun.
6. 6Eat for your eyes: leafy greens, carrots, orange fruits, fish, eggs, nuts and citrus supply vitamins A, C, E, lutein, zinc and omega-3 fats.
7. 7Do not smoke. It raises the risk of cataract and macular degeneration.
8. 8Control diabetes and blood pressure, which protect retinal blood vessels.
9. 9Practise lens hygiene: wash hands before handling contact lenses, never sleep or swim with them unless approved, and replace them as directed.
10. 10Wear protective eyewear during sports, welding, construction and chemical handling.
11. 11Never use steroid eye drops without a prescription. They can cause glaucoma and cataract.
12. 12Keep makeup clean and do not share cosmetics.
13. 13Sleep well, since tired eyes recover overnight.
14. 14Limit screen time in children and encourage outdoor play, which has been shown to slow the progression of short-sightedness.

Eye Emergencies

Go to the emergency department or an eye hospital immediately for:

• Sudden loss or sharp decrease of vision.
• Chemical splash in the eye: rinse continuously with clean running water for at least 15 minutes before travelling.
• Injury or a foreign object embedded in the eye. Do not rub or remove it.
• Severe eye pain with nausea, headache or halos around lights.
• A curtain, shadow or sudden flashes and floaters.
• Double vision with headache or weakness.
• Newborn or child with red, swollen eyes and discharge.

Myths About Eyes

• Reading in dim light damages the eyes. It may cause temporary strain but not permanent damage.
• Wearing glasses makes the eyes weaker. Glasses correct vision and do not increase dependence.
• Eating carrots can cure poor vision. They support eye health but do not fix refractive errors.
• Cataracts must be "ripe" before surgery. Modern surgery can be performed when vision problems affect daily life.
• Rose water or home drops are harmless. Non-sterile drops can cause serious infection.

Eye Care for Children and Teenagers

Children's eyes are still developing, so problems found early can usually be corrected. Watch for a turned eye, frequent blinking, head tilting, complaints of headaches after school, or a child who sits very close to the television or holds books near the face. Short-sightedness is increasing among urban children, driven partly by long near-work hours and less outdoor time. Encourage at least one to two hours of outdoor activity every day, limit recreational screen time, ensure good lighting for homework and book regular eye tests. Spectacles prescribed for a child should be worn consistently, since leaving them off can leave vision underdeveloped.

Eye Care for People With Diabetes and Hypertension

High blood sugar and blood pressure damage the retina's tiny vessels over years, often without symptoms. A yearly dilated retinal examination is therefore essential, and any blurring, floaters or sudden changes should be reported quickly. Good control of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol is the most powerful way to protect your eyes, and treatment such as laser or injections can preserve vision when problems are found early.

Care at Trustmed Hospital

At Trustmed Hospital in Badshahpur, Gurugram, our general medicine and paediatrics teams check vision, screen for diabetes-related eye problems and coordinate referrals for specialised eye care when needed. Book an appointment for a health check.

Frequently Asked Questions