Four Signs You Need to See an Optometrist Right Now
Most patients know that yearly eye exams keep their vision healthy, clear, and bright. But, many patients don’t know when to see an eye doctor outside of annual exams. As a result, the signs that patients need to see an optometrist may go largely ignored until it is too late.
The optometrists at GW Eye Associates are here to help patients address all of their vision concerns in La Jolla, CA, Carmel Valley, CA, and San Diego, CA. With comprehensive exams and advanced treatments, our patients can feel confident that they are receiving the highest level of care.
In this blog post, our team discusses four signs you need to see an optometrist right now. Ignoring these signs can put the health of your eyes and vision in grave jeopardy.
1. Eye Pain
There are several causes of eye pain, including:
- Allergies
- Styes (red, painful, pimple-like lumps on the eyelid)
- Glaucoma
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Corneal abrasions
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes)
Clearly, some causes of eye pain are more serious than others. That’s why it is crucial for patients to come to a licensed and trusted optometrist for speedy and accurate diagnoses. Otherwise, unchecked eye pain can lead to eye injuries and, potentially, permanent vision loss.
2. Bright Flashes, Floaters, and Spots
It is normal for patients to experience flashes, spots, or floaters in their vision from time to time. However, regularly seeing bright flashes, clouds of floaters, or dark spots in their vision is not.
Indeed, routinely seeing these visual anomalies may indicate more serious issues, such as a detached retina. Although detached retinas are rare (approximately 28,000 cases yearly in the United States), they may result in permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Subsequently, patients should contact our optometrists immediately if they are noticing flashes, spots, and floaters with increasing regularity and intensity.
3. Frequent Headaches
Headaches can indicate many issues, but they are frequently the result of untreated vision problems, such as:
- Presbyopia (farsightedness)
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Astigmatism (imperfect curvature of the eye)
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Optic nerve issues
Determining the cause of vision-related headaches requires the expertise of a trained optometrist. By addressing the root cause of headaches immediately, patients can protect their eyes from permanent damage in the future.
4. Extreme Light Sensitivity
In some cases, patients may have vision problems that are not painful. Instead, they may experience intense discomfort only when surrounded by bright light. Although it may be easy for these patients to ignore extreme light sensitivity, leaving it unaddressed could have devastating effects on their vision.
Light sensitivity may be the result of several issues, including:
- Pink eye
- Dry eyes
- Corneal abrasion
- Retinal detachment
- Meningitis
- Traumatic brain injury
Ultimately, patients can’t know for sure what is causing light sensitivity until they meet with an optometrist. Therefore, patients should not delay in addressing light sensitivity. Otherwise, they may experience increasing pain that can lead to permanent blindness.
Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Don’t ignore the tell-tale signs you need to see an optometrist. Contact the experienced and knowledgeable team at GW Eye Associates today. We can help you address vision problems quickly so that you can preserve the health and function of your eyes.
Patients can get started by sending our team a message to request an appointment now.
