By Pam Cruz

An eye exam every year should help you stay on top of your eye health, but some people require more than one each year. It’s important to know when you need to schedule an exam, especially if you are over 50  years old.

Here are eight signs you should get an exam on the calendar soon:

  1. Your eyes are red, dry or itchy. Or you are seeing spots, flashes of light or floaters.
  2. You have diabetes or another health condition that affects your eyes. Also, if you have a family history of diabetes or glaucoma you may need exams more often, especially as you move into your 50s and beyond.
  3. You can’t remember when you last had an eye exam. If it’s been longer than a year, you’re overdue.
  4. You have difficulty driving at night and seeing street signs in the dark.
  5. You experience eye strain, headaches and/or blurred vision after spending an extended amount of time in front of a computer screen.
  6. You get motion sick, dizzy or have trouble following a moving target.
  7. You hold books or the newspaper farther away from your face and squint or close one eye to read them clearly.
  8. You notice any changes in your vision, especially after head trauma.

For more information on eye health and conditions like cataracts and glaucoma, visit the Eye Surgery Center. To find an experienced eye surgeon, call 1.855.HHC.EYES (1.855.442.3937).