Any time you or a family member or friend experience problems with vision, you should have your eyes examined immediately.

Whether due to age, certain medical conditions, or family history, some adults and children may be at higher risk for developing eye problems. Adults (and children) who have a higher risk for vision problems should visit an optometrist to get a comprehensive, baseline exam and counselling on the next steps to take.

Eye health risk factors include:

  • AGE

  • DIABETES

  • HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)

  • FAMILY HISTORY OF EYE DISEASE

  • SOME RISKS FOR CHILDREN

AGE

As we age, problems such as glaucoma and cataracts start to become more frequent. MyEyeDr GH recommends all adults at the age of 40 complete a comprehensive eye exam. Problems with glaucoma and cataracts start to become more frequent and people typically start to have problems with their near vision (presbyopia) at this age.

DIABETES

All adults with diabetes, whether or not they are experiencing eye symptoms, should have their eyes examined every year, and possibly more frequently if changes from diabetes are found.

Diabetes and its effects on the eye are a leading cause of some irreversible vision loss and blindness in adults. Early eye examinations reveal problems before they worsen. Early treatment—such as better blood sugar control, and co-management can prevent vision loss.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is imperative to get your eyes examined. Hypertension can cause changes to the blood vessels in the retina (the back of the eye). These changes can be detected through eye examinations. Hypertension is also a risk factor in the development or worsening of eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

FAMILY HISTORY OF EYE DISEASE

If you have a family history of glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts at an early age, or other eye conditions, your risk of developing an eye problem may be higher than is typical. For example, a family history of glaucoma makes it 4 to 9 times more likely for someone to have glaucoma. Get to know your family eye health history and schedule an eye exam with your optometrist if you think you might be at risk.

SOME RISKS FOR CHILDREN

Regular eye screenings of children by optometrists are a part of good well-child care. When children are older vision screenings are usually performed in school. The vast majority of children do not need to have comprehensive examinations performed, saving their families time and money and saving the children from undergoing unnecessary exams.

Children should be referred to an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam if they fail a routine screening or demonstrate risk factors of possible eye conditions. Eye health risk factors for children include:

  • Symptoms or observations of a problem by family or teachers.

  • Developmental or learning problems in school.

  • Diagnosed medical problems that are associated with eye disease.

  • Family history of eye problems that may be hereditary, like misalignment of the eyes (strabismus) or poor vision in one or both eyes (amblyopia).