The silent signs your eyes need more care than you might think

You’re getting headaches more often than you used to 

If headaches show up after screen time, reading or a long day at work, your eyes could be working harder than they need to be and your eyes may be requiring some professional attention. 

Uncorrected or outdated prescriptions can force your eye muscles to work harder to keep things clear. That strain often shows up as tension headaches, especially around the temples or behind the eyes. 

It’s not just annoying. Left unchecked, it can affect focus, productivity and even sleep.

Your eyes feel tired, dry or gritty by the end of the day 

That sandy, burning feeling isn’t just a screen problem. These symptoms may be a sign of dry eye, one of the most common and under-diagnosed eye conditions in Australia. 

We blink less when we’re on devices, driving or concentrating. Over time, that disrupts the tear film that protects your eyes. 

Chronic dryness can damage the eye's surface and cause vision to fluctuate, even if your prescription is technically correct.

You’re squinting more than you realise 

Squinting is your eyes’ DIY fix. It temporarily sharpens focus by limiting incoming light. 

If you’re squinting at street signs, presentations or subtitles, that’s a clue your vision isn’t as clear as it should be. Many people adapt so gradually that they don’t notice the change at all. 

By the time squinting feels constant, your eyes have been compensating for a while.

Light suddenly feels harsher 

Finding yourself bothered by glare, bright sunlight or headlights at night? 

Increased light sensitivity can be linked to dry eye, early cataracts, eye infection, eye inflammation or changes in the eye’s surface. It can also make driving at night more difficult and tiring. 

It’s not something to push through or power past. It’s important to check your eyes with your trusted optometrist. 

Your vision is clear…until it isn’t 

Blurry vision that comes and goes is easy to dismiss. But fluctuating clarity can indicate dry eye, eye strain, early vision changes, or potentially in some cases, sight threatening ocular disease, that won’t resolve on their own. 

Clear vision should be consistent, not something you get “on a good day”.

You haven’t had an eye exam in years 

This one’s quiet but powerful. 

Many serious eye conditions, including glaucoma, develop with no early symptoms at all. Vision loss can occur before you notice anything is wrong. 

Regular eye tests don’t just check how well you see. They assess eye health, detect disease early and track subtle changes over time. 

For adults, that usually means an eye test at least once every two years, or more often if your optometrist recommends it.

Kids rarely complain, but their eyes still struggle 

Children often don’t know their vision isn’t normal. They assume everyone sees the way they do. 

Signs can also be behavioural: avoiding reading, losing focus quickly, rubbing their eyes, squinting, sitting very close to screens or struggling at school. 

Because children’s vision is still developing, missing problems early can have long-term consequences. Early checks and early detection matter more than most parents realise. 

Your eyes are part of your overall health 

Eye health is closely linked to general health. Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and autoimmune disease can all affect the eyes, sometimes before other symptoms appear. 

An eye test can reveal more than just a need for glasses. It can be an early warning system for your whole body.