Going to the eye doctor often and regularly is incredibly important. Many people fail to see the purpose is seeing the eye doctor, and so they don't go often enough and put themselves at risk for serious problems. Here are some reasons to see the eye doctor.

1. Changes In Vision

Changes in vision happen very slowly and subtly. In fact, you could have a problem with your eyesight, be experiencing headaches, straining your eyes, and even driving unsafely because of your eye sight. When you go to the eye doctor, the first thing they will check is your vision. You might be surprised to learn that your vision is worse than you thought and that you require a stronger prescription than you thought.

Some people are able to detect vision problems on their own because they are sensitive to their eyes and can tell that they are not seeing as well. But others use the same prescription far too long and put themselves in a dangerous situation.

2. Detect Eye Diseases

What many people don't know is that eye diseases are mostly silent. There are very few signs of common eye diseases like cancer or glaucoma. Thus, when you do actually have symptoms, the problem may be so serious that there is nothing that the doctor can do for you to reverse the damage. Treating the problem early on, when there are no symptoms, is the key to your eye health.

When you go to the eye doctor, the optometrist will check for any possible diseases. This can only be done by using special microscopes and techniques that detect the early signs.

3. Detect Other Health Diseases

Although the eye doctor can detect eye diseases, they can also help you know when you need to seek additional help from a doctor. For example, diseases such as MS have blurred vision associated with them. Many people disregard this symptom, thinking that they need to get a stronger prescription of glasses, and don't think it is a sign of a serious problem. When you see the eye doctor, they can rule out prescription changes and let you know when it is time to see additional doctors for testing.

As you can see, seeing the eye doctor is very important. So next time you think to skip an eye appointment because you don't think your vision has changed, think again. You should be getting these checkups at least every couple years, and even more often the older you get. For more information, contact an eye doctor at a location such as Quality Eye Care.