Recently, Jas and I decided that we should get our eyes checked. Neither of us had significant symptoms; however, how do you know that your vision couldn’t be better if you have never had it checked? Furthermore, there are a few serious conditions that can be asymptomatic that can cause serious problems for your eyes if they go long periods undiagnosed. It is definitely a good idea to get your eyes checked, whether you have problems currently or not.
We had been planning a visit to one of the many optometrists in our course, and we finally found the time when both our friend Alex, and ourselves were free for a checkup. Jas had her eyes tested previously, so she knew what to expect. I had never had my eyes checked, so I made Jas go first so I could watch. Jas didn’t have any serious problems and does not need glasses. She was told to do some pencil-push-ups to try and strengthen some of the muscles that move the eye – in other words, her eyes are pretty close to perfect.
Me, on the other hand… I have a slight astigmatism. An astigmatism is quite common, and refers to the altered curvature of the cornea/lens relative to the vertical and horizontal axis. I could use some glasses for minor correction, however, as I have not had any symptoms, it is not imperative that I get specs.
However, when my eye was photographed, I discovered that I have some swelling of the optic disc at the back of my eye. This can be a sign of glaucoma – a condition that can lead to blindness. Glaucoma usually presents with increased pressure in the eye, so I had the pressure measured while I was there to help rule out any serious concerns. Thankfully, I have good pressure in my eyes, so the ‘swelling’ is probably just anatomical variation. If the pressure was also elevated in my eyes, it would have been good to have that picked up early.
Visiting the optometrist is a good way to get your eye health screened, so I suggest you think about getting it done yourself. Who knows, you might find that your vision could be even better than it already is with some minor correction.
