No matter how well you see or how healthy you feel, eye exams are extremely important for all ages. It is an unfortunate fact that many families will go for months or even years without an eye exam, especially if they feel as if their eyesight is perfectly fine. Next time you are thinking about putting off your annual eye exam, take a fresh look at these five compelling reasons to schedule an appointment.

Eye Exams Are Not Just For Eyes
Old poems may say that eyes are windows to the soul, but they are also windows to a patient's health. Many of the most common medical conditions can actually be uncovered due to symptoms with the eyes. This includes various forms of diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and tumors. Regular eye exams could help you catch these issues in their earliest stages.

Many Eyesight Problems Are Preventable But Not Reversible
We only get one set of eyes. When serious issues are taking place but never treated, it could cause irreversible damage. With regular eye exams, a doctor will often be able to catch some of the most common problems before they actually cause damage. As a general rule, it is ideal to have at least one full eye exam every year unless other medical issues are affecting your eyes.

Major Problems Often Have No Noticeable Symptoms
Other common problems such as glaucoma and macular degeneration develop so slowly that patients do not even realize they are taking place until it is too late. The only effective and consistent way to catch these problems is with a full eye exam carried out by an experienced doctor

Eyesight Affects Learning Abilities
Countless studies continue to show that children with eyesight problems often have difficulty with their schoolwork. These children tend to squint more often, develop headaches, fail to ask questions of their teacher, and subconsciously “shut down” as they cannot actually see what is happening on the board or screen. Having a proper eye exam can fix this problem to see if someone might need a prescription pair of glasses from places like Cohen’s Fashion Optical.

Eye Health Can Change Rapidly
Your eyesight is constantly going to change throughout your life no matter how healthy you may feel. Minor or major problems can develop without any warning and could lead to permanent damage if they are not diagnosed and treated immediately.

Just as with many other medical issues, catching eye problems in their earliest stages is the most effective way to prevent major problems down the road.

Author's Bio: 

Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn't on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on twitter: @RachelleWilber