Eye Michigan recommends a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year to ensure optimal eye health. When should you call between visits?
If you are presenting with a new eye problem or a change in your existing condition, you should always call and make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. It is important to address any serious vision concerns as soon as possible.
In general, you should make an appointment with an ophthalmologist any time you are experiencing significant blurring, darkening or obscuring of your vision. Likewise, even if your vision is unaffected, you should also see an ophthalmologist if your eyes experience soreness, burning, itching or other serious, ongoing discomfort. Symptoms like increased floaters, flashes of light, difficulty focusing and other unusual changes in vision can seem small, but can be indicators of internal damage that can be treated.
Often, patients will forego seeking medical attention because they aren’t experiencing any pain. However, in the case of serious conditions like glaucoma and retinal detachment, the severe damage to the optic nerve and retinal tissue often occurs without any discomfort. In the case of glaucoma, there are very few warning signs before loss of vision starts to occur. For this reason, it is also important to make an appointment if your family has a history of serious eye conditions.
If you begin to experience noticeable changes in your field of vision or if you have an eye injury, it is best to make an appointment with your Eye Michigan ophthalmologist immediately to rule out any potential problems. For emergent eye problems, go directly to the emergency room.