It’s normal for vision to change as we get older. In fact, many people who enjoyed perfect 20/20 eyesight all their lives begin to notice some difficulty in their later years (particularly with tasks such as reading). Most of us need to schedule one eye exam each year, regardless of circumstances, but once you reach age 50 these check-ups take on more importance.

In fact, after about age 50, your vision can change noticeably over the course of a few months. So if you observe any of these signs, schedule a vision check right away, even if you were already examined within the last year or so.

• Your eyes feel persistently red, dry or itchy.
• You see spots, flashing lights, or “floaters” in your vision.
• You’ve noticed increased difficulty driving at night.
• Your eyes feel strained, or you experience headaches, after spending time in front of a computer or TV screen.
• You feel like you need to hold books or newspapers farther from your face in order to read the words clearly.
• You find yourself squinting or closing one eye while reading.
• You’ve noticed any other changes in your vision (especially if you’ve recently suffered a head trauma).
• You experience motion sickness, dizzy spells, or have trouble following a moving target.
• You have diabetes, or another condition known to affect eyesight, or you have a family history of such conditions.
• You haven’t had an eye exam in over one year.

Remember, an eye exam can detect more than just changes in your vision. Eye doctors are often the first to notice signs of diabetes, certain types of cancer, and other diseases just by examining your eyes. So, schedule annual check-ups, and more frequent exams if any of the above symptoms happen to you.

A vision insurance plan can help keep your costs low and affordable. Give us a call to discuss vision insurance, and we can help you decide if this type of protection is right for you.