There are several signs you should have an eye exam. The most obvious sign is the inability to read a traffic sign or house address. However, there are also many other signs, which suggest that your vision isn’t at its true potential. Therefore, it’s important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your optometrist every year to ensure that your eyes stay healthy and your vision remains sharp. 

Here are the 5 signs you should have an eye exam:

1. Changes in night vision

Are you experiencing changes in night vision? If your night vision is changing, you’ll have difficult seeing when you’re driving. This means having difficulty seeing other cars and reading traffic signs or house address. Changes in night vision is due to the natural aging process as our eye lens become less clear and grow cloudy. However, night blindness may be a symptom of early cataract development. 

2. Frequent headaches or migraines 

Are you experiencing frequent headaches or migraines? Headaches or migraines is one of the early warning signs of a change in vision. It can result from stress, muscle tension, working in dim or overly bright light, or starting a computer screen for too long. 

3. Recurrent eye fatigue 

Are you experiencing recurrent eye fatigue? There are many reasons eye fatigue can occur. If you’re experience eye strain for three or more days, your eye strain could be a sign of an eye infection or condition. 

4. Sensitivity to light 

Are you experiencing sensitivity to light? If you’re experiencing sensitivity to light, it could be a symptom of an eye infection, corneal abrasion, or a central nervous system disorder. 

5. Sudden difficulty focusing

Are you experiencing sudden difficulty focusing? Some people experience inconsistent focus issues. For example, some people have trouble focusing in certain levels of light, some people have difficulty reading up close, and some people have difficulty seeing objects that are far. If you’re heaving difficulty focusing, you should see your optometrist to examine for common vision problems or serious eye conditions.