By having a regular check up and wearing glasses or contact lenses if you need them, you can prevent problems with your eyes in the future.

Having a sight test

Sight tests are an important way of identifying any problems early on. They:

  • should be taken at least every two years (depending on your age and medical history, it may be necessary to have them more frequently)
  • are carried out by an optometrist or an ophthalmic medical practitioner
  • usually take place in high street opticians or hospital eye departments
  • take between 20 to 30 minutes
  • involve checks for eye diseases, like glaucoma or cataracts, or general health problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
  • enable you to be referred to your local doctor or a hospital consultant ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctors who diagnose and treat eye disorders) if you have a problem that requires investigation or treatment
  • can be carried out at home if you are unable to leave home unaccompanied due to physical or mental illness or disability

Sight prescriptions

If you need glasses or contact lenses, a prescription will be given to you by an optometrist or ophthalmic medical practitioner, this prescription will be valid for two years. Opticians will supply and fit glasses or contact lenses according to your prescription.

Common eyesight problems

The following eye problems are the most common.

Problems corrected by glasses or contact lenses

  • long-sightedness (hyperopia)
  • short-sightedness (myopia)
  • astigmatism

Problems not necessarily related to vision loss

  • dry eye
  • conjunctivitis
  • blepharitis (inflammation of the eye lids)

Problems associated with vision development in children

  • lazy eye (amblyopia)
  • squints or turns in the eye (strabismus)

Problems that cause vision loss

  • cataract
  • glaucoma
  • macular degeneration

So, find an optician near you and start taking care of your vision, it will really payout in the future.

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