Seeing an Eye Doctor is Seeing Things Clearly
Regular eye doctor visits can have big health benefits
The benefits of getting regular eye exams
Just because you can read this sentence doesn’t mean you don’t need to make an eye appointment. The CDC estimates that 93 million adults in the United States are at high risk for serious vision loss, yet only about half visited an eye doctor in the past year. If you don’t have an issue, when should you see an eye doctor? And how would you know you should go?
You Haven’t Had a Regular Eye Exam in a Year or More
Regular eye exams are critical to maintaining proper eye health and vision. Your eyes are likely your most relied-upon sense. Regular eye exams and eye doctor visits can help you maintain your view of the world around you as well as your independence.
We are Spending More Time Screen Watching
According to a survey by Vision Direct, Americans typically spend an average of 17 hours of their day looking at a screen. During the pandemic, that number rose to 19 hours a day.
Overuse of screens can cause eye strain (caused by the blue light of the screen), dry eyes (we tend to blink less frequently while staring at a screen), headaches and blurred vision. While screen use isn’t yet seen as causing long-term problems, it can create these immediate issues. If you are engaging in long amounts of screen time and experiencing eye strain or pain, it would be a good time to schedule a visit with your eye doctor.
Starting to See Floaters, Shadows, Halos, or have Tunnel or Double Vision
Abnormal things in your field of vision are troubling, especially if they happen with any regularity. Many aren’t necessarily more than an inconvenience if they’re infrequent, but they might also be a sign of larger issues.
For example, halos and tunnel vision may be symptoms of glaucoma. If you’re concerned that there might be a bigger issue, an eye doctor visit for an exam is really the only way to know if there’s anything to be worried about.
Changes in Your Visual Acuity
Like everything else, your body and eyes change as you age. If you often find yourself wondering why your arms aren’t longer as you’re trying to read something, it might be time to schedule an eye doctor visit.
Suffering from an Eye Injury
This should be obvious, but if something damages your eye — from a scratched lens to cleaning fluid or some other caustic material getting into the eye and anything in-between — get yourself to an eye care professional as soon as possible.
Family History of Vision Problems
If your mother and father wear glasses, there’s a better than average chance that you’ll need them as well. If your grandmother had glaucoma or cataracts, go for regular screenings with your ophthalmologist or optometrist to stay ahead of anything that may be easily treated.
Eye Exams can Reveal Health Problems Beyond Your Eyes
An ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to spot things beyond macular degeneration or cataracts. A thorough eye exam can detect signs of a stroke, an aneurysm, diabetes, certain cancers, high blood pressure, Lyme disease, MS, arthritis, sickle cell anemia, Graves’ disease and more, so don’t underestimate the benefits to overall eye health & vision that can come regular eye exams by a trained professional.
As you tend to the health and well-being of your eyes, don’t lose sight of the health and well-being of your home life. Your healthy eyes can help with all the things you’ll do around your house as you enjoy your comfortable retirement.
If you’re a homeowner age 62 or older, a reverse mortgage loan from Reverse Mortgage Funding, LLC (RMF) can help you leverage the equity you’ve built up in your home, all while still living in it and retaining ownership. Funds can be used for any purpose, from unexpected healthcare expenses to remodeling your home to increase your ability to age in place. As with any mortgage, you must meet your loan obligations, keeping current with property taxes, insurance and keeping your home in good condition.
For more retirement news from RMF visit our Retirement News with Professor Craig here.
To learn more, call RMF today at (888) 277-1567 and schedule a convenient, in-person or virtual appointment with a loan specialist in your area.
This content is sponsored by RMF, one of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders. We are dedicated to helping older Americans retire more freely, in the comfort of their own homes. As a result of our commitment to providing an extraordinary and positive customer experience, we have earned a 98% customer satisfaction rating; a 4.7-star / Excellent score on Trustpilot; 4.8 out of 5 stars on LendingTree; and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call 888-277-1567 to speak with a licensed reverse mortgage specialist to learn about our retirement financing products and solutions.
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