I spy, with my little eye, something blurry...
Whether you're stubborn or just truly unsure if you need glasses, there are several ways to tell for sure. Your best bet is to check with an optometrist, but we've lined up some things to consider to determine if it's the right time to consult a doctor. Keep an eye on these signs you need glasses.
What's Wrong with This Picture?
Do you experience blurred vision when you read or look at something close-up? Do you find that it is hard to see things that are far away, such as street signs or objects on the horizon? Do you have trouble seeing things both far away and close up? Is it harder for you to see things at night than it is for you to see things during the day? Have you ever felt like it is harder to adjust your eyes when you are changing from bright to dark surroundings, or vice versa? Is it tough to read or spend time working at a computer or looking at a computer screen? Are you straining your eyes frequently? Are your eyes tired or fatigued? Do you suffer from headaches often? Do you ever experience double vision? Do you sometimes see halos around light?
So many questions! So many different signs you may need glasses.
DIY Home Vision Tests
Beyond the questions above, there are several more "tests" to check if you need glasses.
The Book Test: Where do you hold books or reading material? If you hold reading material more than 10 or 12 inches from your face, you may need a pair of reading glasses. If you have to hold a book far from your eyes in order to focus on the words, glasses might help.
The Task Test: Beyond reading, if you tend to have problems doing close-up tasks or projects such as drawing, writing or sewing, it is also possible that a pair of glasses could help.
The Headache Test: Do you find yourself getting headaches frequently? Are your eyes fatigued after you have spent time looking at a nearby object? Your body could be giving you a sign that you need glasses.
Common Vision Problems
The vision problems that occur most often are nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. These problems can affect both adults and children, and happen at any age.
Nearsightedness
Myopia (mi-OH-pee-uh), or nearsightedness, is a vision problem in which objects close up are clear, but things that are far away are blurry or difficult to see. Nearsightedness is caused by an elongated eyeball or a curvature in the cornea -- the clear front cover of the eye. Because of this elongation or curvature, light that enters the eye doesn't focus correctly, and the result is that faraway things look blurry.
Myopia affects almost 30 percent of the people in the United States. The causes are unclear, but some research shows that it may be hereditary or caused by stress from too much up-close visual work. Usually, signs of nearsightedness appear in young children but grow until the age of 20. Sometimes myopia can show up in adults due to eye stress or other issues like diabetes.
Farsightedness
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a vision problem in which close objects are seen as blurry or out of focus, while objects in the distance appear clearly. Like nearsightedness, farsightedness is caused by a misshapen eyeball; in this case, hyperopia is caused by an eyeball that is too short or a cornea that isn't curved enough. Light that enters the eye is not correctly focused, so nearby objects appear blurry.
Symptoms of hyperopia specifically include trouble concentrating and keeping focused on close-up objects, eyestrain, eye tiredness or headaches after doing close work. Also, burning or aching of the eye and nervousness or irritability after doing close work are also signs of farsightedness.
What's troubling is that typical vision screenings -- like those done in schools -- are usually not great at diagnosing or detecting hyperopia. You'll have to have a full screening done by an optometrist to know if you are nearsighted.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a common vision problem that leads to blurred vision. Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or a curved lens inside the eye. This keeps light that comes in from being correctly focused on the retina and results in blurry vision -- both near and far.
Astigmatism is so common that just about everybody has some amount of it. Small amounts of astigmatism -- slightly irregularly shaped corneas -- do not usually cause severe problems and usually do not cause problems or require glasses. More severe cases of astigmatism, or more irregularly shaped corneas, can create distorted or blurry vision, headaches and eye discomfort.
Many times, astigmatism occurs with other vision problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a vision problem that happens when the lens of the eye becomes less flexible. This makes it very difficult to focus on nearby objects.
This condition might seem like it happens suddenly; however, the actual changes in the lens happen over years. Usually, sufferers will notice signs of presbyopia in their 40s. It is comforting to note that presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and not a disease. However, this also means that it can't really be prevented.
You might notice that you are holding books, menus or reading material further away than usual. Your vision may be blurry when reading at a normal distance, and you may experience eye tiredness or headaches after doing close work.
A simple pair of reading glasses may help presbyopia, or if you have other conditions, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, an optometrist can help you find the right corrective lens.
If you experience any signs of vision problems, make an appointment with a doctor of optometry to check for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia or other eye conditions.
If you are experiencing any of these signs you need glasses, it’s time to see the doctor. For many people, it will prove to be an eye-opening experience.
