Optometrists are eye care specialists who diagnose, treat, and manage various eye conditions. Regular visits to these professionals help detect early signs of eye diseases and prevent potential vision loss. At Collins Eye Center in Brentwood, TN, we provide quality eye care services to protect and optimize your vision. Here are five reasons to book an appointment with an optometrist:
1. Preventative Eye Care
Many people only visit their eye doctor when they experience vision problems. Some eye conditions do not exhibit noticeable symptoms until they become advanced and challenging to treat. That’s why eye specialists recommend regular eye exams, even if you haven’t noticed a change in your vision. During regular visits, your optometrist tests for and diagnoses eye conditions and develops treatment plans to prevent or slow their progression. Collins Eye Center offers quality eye exams to identify potential issues before they worsen, keeping your eyes healthy.
2. Risk Factors for Certain Eye Conditions
Some people are at a higher risk of developing certain eye conditions than others. Individuals with a family history of glaucoma have an increased risk of developing this eye disease. Diabetic patients have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss if not treated early. Other risk factors for eye diseases include age, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits like smoking. Regular visits to your optometrist allow them to identify and monitor these risk factors and implement early intervention strategies to prevent vision loss.
3. Signs and Symptoms of Eye Conditions
While some eye conditions do not present obvious symptoms, others show early warning signs you should not ignore. These signs include blurred vision, eye pain or discomfort, redness and irritation, and changes in vision such as double vision or difficulty seeing at night. Some conditions, like cataracts, may cause gradual vision loss. Others, like retinal detachment, may cause sudden vision changes. If you experience these or other symptoms, schedule an appointment with your optometrist to receive a diagnosis and start treating the underlying cause.
4. Injuries or Foreign Objects in the Eye
Accidents involving the eyes may result in foreign objects getting stuck in your eye or sustaining an injury around the eye area. These situations require immediate care from an optometrist as they can cause infections or damage to the eye if left untreated. An eye doctor has the tools and expertise to safely remove foreign objects from your eye and treat injuries effectively. Do not attempt to remove these foreign objects yourself, as you may cause more damage to your eye.
5. Prescription Updates
Vision can change over time, so your current glasses or contacts prescription may no longer provide optimal vision correction. If you are experiencing frequent headaches, eye strain, or difficulty seeing objects up close or far away, it might be time for a prescription update. Your optometrist will conduct an eye exam to determine the right prescription for clear and comfortable vision. Ignoring vision changes can lead to further eyestrain and damage to your eyesight.
Book an Appointment With a Reputable Optometrist
Regular eye exams enable early detection of potential vision issues before they become serious. At Collins Eye Center, we provide comprehensive eye care services to protect and enhance your vision. We can help you choose the right eyewear, diagnose and treat various eye conditions, and provide preventative eye care. Schedule an eye exam appointment with our optometrist today.
