10 Reasons You Need Regular General Eye Exams After 40

Your late 30’s to early 40’s can be a very busy time in life, especially if job stress, child-rearing, family obligations, and social commitments are all in play. It is also more important than ever to take care of yourself! How you manage your health now can have a major impact on your overall well-being throughout the rest of your life. One of the best health decisions you can make is to have regular comprehensive eye exams.

Some people neglect to get eye exams because they are busy, because they don’t think they need one, or because they don’t like going to the doctor. However, regular eye exams are an easy way to practice self-care while protecting your vision! Here are 10 reasons why you need to schedule an eye exam:

1. Establish Baseline Eye Health

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that everyone have a comprehensive eye exam around the age of 40 even if they are not experiencing any vision changes or eye symptoms. Trusted Source Preferred Practice Patterns Committee American Academy of Ophthalmology Go to Source ¹ Why? Because there are many age-related conditions that can affect your vision in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond. Establishing your where your eye health is in your early 40’s will give your eye doctor information to compare with your future visits.

2. Watch for Age-Related Eye Diseases

As we get older, we are at risk of developing eye diseases such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma; eye exams are vital because many of these eye diseases do not have any symptoms in the early stages. Trusted Source Vision and Aging Resources National Eye Institue Go to Source ² Your eye doctor can evaluate your risk and develop a treatment plan if any eye diseases are detected.

3. Prevent Irreversible Damage

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and over 2.7 Americans over the age of 40 are affected by open-angle glaucoma. Trusted Source Sources for Glaucoma: Facts & Figures. Bright Focus Foundation Go to Source ³ This common form of glaucoma, which causes irreparable damage to the optic nerve, has no detectable symptoms in the critical early stages and patients may not realize that something is wrong until they begin to lose peripheral vision. Unfortunately, vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored. The best way to prevent loss of vision is to get regular comprehensive eye exams for early detection. Trusted Source Symptoms of Open-Angle Glaucoma Glaucoma Research Foundation Go to Source ⁴

4. Protect Your Overall Health With Disease Detection

Did you know that your eye doctor can determine a lot about your health by examining your eyes? In a dilated eye exam, an experienced eye doctor can detect signs of diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune conditions, and certain cancers – often before you may be experiencing symptoms. Trusted Source Your Eyes Could Be the Windows to Your Health American Academy of Ophthalmology Go to Source ⁵ Schedule your eye exam today because your health could depend on it!

5. Deal With Digital Eye Strain

Many jobs today require significant computer work, but spending hours a day looking at a screen can take a toll on our eyes. The American Optometric Association describes a condition called Digital Eye Strain, or Computer Vision Syndrome, as causing headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain. Trusted Source Computer Vision Syndrome American Academy of Ophthalmology Go to Source ⁶ If you experience Digital Eye Strain symptoms, your eye doctor can recommend preventative tips and, if necessary, prescribe special eyeglasses for computer use.

6. Evaluate Sun Damage

Most people are aware of the risks that UV rays pose to our skin health, but did you know that eyes can also suffer from sun damage? UV exposure can increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and growths called pterygium. Trusted Source Clinical Aspects of Pterygiumin the Presence of Cataract. Current Health Sciences Journal Go to Source ⁷ An eye exam can reveal eye problems that may be exacerbated by sun damage and your eye doctor can recommend eyewear that will protect you from UV rays.

7. Diagnose Ocular Allergies

Seasonal allergies commonly cause sneezing, congestion, and coughing. They also cause red, watery, itchy, puffy eyes. While mild allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medications, visual complications can occur from frequent eye rubbing or from more serious ocular allergies. Atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) are two forms of ocular allergies that require treatment from an eye doctor in order to prevent vision loss. Trusted Source Ocular Allergy tooltip text Go to Source ⁸

8. Stay Safe While Driving

Motor vehicle crashes account for over 2 million injuries and over 37,000 deaths per year in the United States. Trusted Source Road Safety Facts Association for Safe International Road Travel Go to Source ⁹ Age-related eye changes such as cataracts and loss of contrast sensitivity can make safe driving more difficult. Trusted Source How Your Eyes Change With Age AARP Go to Source ¹⁰ While road safety is complex and multi-faceted, one thing you can do to help stay safe on the road is to take care of your vision with regular eye exams.

9. Get Reading Vision Solutions for Presbyopia

After 40, you may find yourself squinting at text messages or holding books and menus further from your face. The reason may be presbyopia, a naturally occurring loss of near vision that happens due to age-related changes in the lens of your eye. Reading glasses are a common treatment, but your eye doctor can talk to you about other options if you’d like to skip the readers. Trusted Source Presbyopia Treatment American Academy of Ophthalmology Go to Source ¹¹

10. Keep Your Prescription Updated

Online shopping has given us the ability to order cheap and stylish glasses from the comfort of our own homes. Just because you can order online with last year’s prescription doesn’t mean that you should skip your annual eye exam. You may not notice gradual changes in your vision, so it is important to see your eye doctor to keep your prescription up to date.