Life is full of moments.
Some are simple habits like putting our shoes on in the morning or brushing our teeth, but others are more significant.
A child’s birthday, graduating from university or winning a grand final are moments which stay with us for life and we remember the smells, the sounds and the sights in detail.
But what if our senses were diminished?
Optometry Australia launched its first ever TV commercial this week nationally, honing in on the importance of good vision to enjoy life’s great moments. The ad is a reminder to all Australians to prioritise their eye health and regularly visit an optometrist for an eye examination.
Why is it important to get an eye exam?
According to Optometry Australia’s 2020 Vision Index, nearly 1 in 10 Australians haven’t had an eye exam in the past five years - increasing the risk of undiagnosed eye disease.
Many believe it is too expensive, whilst others think their vision is perfect so don’t see the need. While you may have 20/20 vision, this doesn’t mean your eyes are immune to diseases or infections.
As 90 per cent of vision loss is preventable with early treatment, it’s vital Australians visit an optometrist to identify possible vision problems.
There are five conditions which are responsible for 80 per cent of vision loss:
- uncorrected refractive error
- cataract
- age-related macular degeneration
- diabetic retinopathy
- glaucoma
Detecting these issues and getting on top of them early means the majority of nasty effects can be avoided and you can continue living with clear vision.
But how do you know if your vision is deteriorating?
Warning signs of vision loss
Many eye diseases have no obvious signs or symptoms, they may be painless and people may not see a change in their vision until it’s too late. With this, the best way to maintain eye health is to regularly visit an optometrist.
There are some symptoms and eye changes however that may indicate something is wrong.
- Loss of vision
- Blurred, hazy or double vision
- Severe, sudden or recurrent eye pain
- Seeing flashes of light or sudden dark floating spots
- Unusual or painful sensitivity to light or glare
- Swollen, red eyes
- Excessive discharge (gunk) from the eyes - particularly if green or yellow
If you experience any of these symptoms you should see your local optometrist as soon as possible.
Please use our Find an Optometrist search tool to find one near you.
Prevention is better than treatment
We commonly see patients delay a visit to the optometrist until their conditions have progressed. Even if you’re not experiencing symptoms, we recommend scheduling periodical eye examinations every 12 months to maintain strong vision - particularly as you grow older.
Be conscious of the warning signs and schedule regular appointments to stay on top of your eye health and enjoy the sights of life's special moments.
Optometry Australia’s television advertisement is airing nationally on the Nine Network.
