Your vision is a critical part of your overall health and wellness. Changes or problems with your eyesight can affect your ability to perform everyday tasks or enjoy simple hobbies and activities. More importantly, they can actually be a sign of underlying issues that need to be addressed promptly. If you are experiencing any of these common yet serious symptoms, it may be time to see an eye care professional.

Noticeable Changes in Vision

Have you recently experienced trouble focusing on objects either close up or far away? Are these issues relatively new? Whether you’ve never needed corrective lenses or already use them, recent or sudden vision changes should never be ignored. In some situations, it may be the result of pregnancy or medications. However, it can also point to diabetes or a degenerative condition that needs to be treated by an ophthalmologist.

Chronic Headaches

Some people experience frequent headaches or migraines due to stress or vitamin deficiencies. However, many chronic headache problems can be solved with the right corrective lens prescription. If you suffer from this issue frequently, be sure to have your eyes checked, as it could provide a simple pain relief solution.

Floaters

From time to time, you may notice floaters in your field of vision when you’re in a well-lit area. This occurs when the eye is able to focus on tiny, otherwise invisible organisms or debris that move over the surface of the eye. If you start to notice an increase in how often you see floaters, you should talk to an eye doctor, as it could be a sign of retinal detachment.

Blurred or Impaired Vision

Blurry eyesight can happen for a number of reasons, including

• Allergies
• Viruses
• Common infections, such as conjunctivitis
• Outdated corrective lens prescriptions

However, these can also be a sign of more serious conditions, such as dry eye disease, cataracts or an eye tear. If symptoms do not improve with eye drops, require continued lubrication or are accompanied with severe eye pain, it is important to seek medical evaluation and treatment. While a prescription can help in some situations, others may require surgery to resolve the problem.

When you experience any of these symptoms, early detection and diagnosis can help lead to a more favorable outcome. In addition, it’s important to maintain regular, annual checkups with an eye doctor, as some signs of a serious condition can go unnoticed due to their gradual progression. Make your eyesight a priority and stay on top of any changes you notice for healthier vision and a healthier life.