6 Signs it’s Time for an Eye Exam

When you’re on a beautiful island like Phuket, you want to be able to see all the shades of green and blue in crystal clarity, which means keeping your eyes in top form. Eye health is extremely important, especially as we get older. Scheduling regular eye exams—at least once every two years—is the best way to ensure your eyesight stays sharp, even in the face of age, sunlight, and screen time. Here are six signs that it’s time for an eye exam.

1. Sudden onset of blurry vision

If you find yourself squinting at the cocktail menu before you’ve even had a drop to drink, schedule a check-up. Blurred vision can affect both eyes, but is usually experienced with one eye. It can be a symptom of a variety of conditions, including astigmatism, migraines, glaucoma, and what’s technically known as either myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), just to name a few.

2. Visual disturbances

If you start experiencing things like floating specks, flashes of light, black spots or any other obstructions, it’s important to take it seriously as it can be a result of conditions including migraines, retinal tear and detachment. While these disturbances might go away on their own, it is safest to seek professional treatment.

3. Gradual decrease in vision

As we age, our vision can change quite dramatically, though it can happen so slowly that sometimes we don’t even notice it. If you’re finding it a bit difficult to read street signs and small fonts you were able to see clearly before, this could mean that your vision is gradually degrading. Getting an eye exam can help you achieve better sight through the prescription of glasses or contacts, and the right correction can also help prevent your eyesight from diminishing further.

4. Headaches and/or eye pain

Frequent headaches can be an indication of vision problems. Similarly, if your eyes are under a lot of pressure and strain in order to help you see better, this can create eye pain.

5. Sensitivity to light

Does everything look a little too bright? Known as photosensitivity, this phenomenon might occur suddenly or gradually over time and can be caused by medication, corneal abrasion, conjunctivitis and more.

6. Swelling or itching

If your eyes or eyelids begin feeling itchy, painful or start to become red or swollen, it’s important to book an eye exam immediately as it is likely due to an infection. If left untreated, eye infections can lead to ulcers on the cornea and loss of vision.

Don’t let eye ailments get in the way of seeing and experiencing all of Thailand’s beauty. Visit the Eye Center at Bamngkok Hospitak Siriroj for a thorough eye assessment that will help you see the world a little clearer.