Regular eye tests key to better vision for longer, says Albany optometrist

Albany optometrist Victoria Walters says a regular eye check-up should not be something to put off, even if you think your vision is 20/20.

“Eyesight is something you don’t think about until it’s a problem,” she said.

“It’s easy to take for granted.

“Getting an eye check is not just about testing your eyesight and your glasses prescription, though that is obviously still important.

“There is much more to an eye check than just testing your vision, it’s an overall health check-up, and it’s something you should do regularly, even if you feel you don’t need it.

“Prevention and early diagnosis are key with eye conditions, so taking these smaller steps to look after your eyes will help look after your sight and keep you seeing well for a long time.”

Lifestyle trends and changes like increased screen time has resulted in changes in patient trends in both children and adults, Ms Walters said.

“Screen time has of course become a bit of an issue,” she said.

“Particularly in kids, it can be associated with myopia, or short-sightedness, and we’re seeing much higher rates of myopia worldwide.

“It’s developing in younger children and developing at a faster rate, so we are working a lot more with children and parents to try to slow down that change.

“Lifestyle changes can weigh into eye problems a lot when it comes to these trends, so for kids getting outside and spending more time in natural light is very important.

“In adults, we’re getting more strain and fatigue because we’re spending hours and hours looking at a computer and our eyes never used to have to do that, so if you’re looking at a computer for hours on end, taking breaks is important.

“That doesn’t mean you need to get up and make a cup of tea every 30 minutes, it can be as simple as just looking away from the screens for a minute and letting your eyes relax without that artificial light.

“Diet is also very important to eye health and can help with macular degeneration, as is UV protection.

“These are habits you can build from a young age that will help keep you seeing better for longer.”