Signs You Might Need to Head to an Eye Specialist

If you’re in class and you start to have a hard time reading what your professor writing on the board, you might need to head to an eye doctor. Not being able up close or from far away are two easy signs to know that you might be having issues with your eyesight. However, there are other “red flags” that might not be as easy to spot. If you notice any of the following signs, you might want to head to an eye specialist, like, pronto.

1. You have headaches all the time

Sure, you could have a headache from a number of things: lack of sleep, cutting out sugar and caffeine (a sign of withdrawal!), or even stress, however, if you’ve been taking care of yourself and notice that you keep getting a headache, it could actually be a sign of eyesight issues. Eye care is of the utmost importance, and if you notice that you keep having unexplained headaches, you might want to head to the doc or an eye doctor, especially if you have any of the other signs listed below.

2. You’re dealing with floaters

Ever see little flecks or silver spots in the corners of your eyes? These babies are called floaters and most of the time, they are not a cause for alarm. However, continual episodes of floaters or an increased amount of “flashing lights” can also mean you have a detached retina, which is a real emergency. Head to an eye specialist ASAP.

3. You have eye pain

Pain is never really good. Maybe you hit the gym hard one day and then you feel sore for a couple days after, giving you a sense of accomplishment. However, for the most part, when you have pain ,it’s not a good sign, especially when it comes to your eyes. It could signal an infection or injury, and it’s always best to get it checked out before it progresses into something more serious. Your vision is definitely something you don’t want to play with.

4. If you have diabetes, you should get checked out

Another sign you should think about heading to an optician is if you or someone in your family has diabetes. If it runs in your family, or if you have been diagnosed, you probably already know that you also have to watch your eyesight just like you watch your blood sugar. Loss of vision can occur in those who have diabetes because the illness can damage the retina. Stay on top of your eye health game by visiting an eye specialist to ensure that everything is going A-okay.

You can head to an eye specialist if you need glasses, but you can also head to one if you notice any of the above signs (or a combination of multiple). Vision insurance is always a great thing to have on hand regardless of your age because you never know what could happen.

When was the last time your visited your eye doctor? Let us know in the comments below!