Don't wait

Often, people with vision problems wait too long before getting an eye exam. If you have any change in vision, have it checked out by an eye care provider. Only an eye care provider can identify serious vision problems, like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, at a stage early enough to treat.

These are the main categories of eye care providers:

• Opticians. They distribute glasses and contacts based on the doctor's prescription. They don't diagnose or treat eye problems.

• Optometrists. They do vision testing, eye exams, and diagnose eye disease. They prescribe glasses and contact lenses and prescribe eye medicines to treat diseases.

• Ophthalmologists. These are medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye disease, do eye surgery, and provide routine vision care services like prescribing glasses and contact lenses for vision correction.

• Primary care providers. Sometimes an eye problem is due to a general health problem. In these situations, your primary care provider should also be involved.

Symptoms to watch

The following symptoms, even if they are temporary, mean you should see an eye care provider right away:

• Red, painful eye or pain in an eye is an emergency

• Partial or total vision loss in one or both eyes

• Double vision

• Blind spots, halos around lights, or areas of distorted vision

• Seeing flashers and/or floaters

• Feeling of a shade or curtain being drawn across your field of vision

• An injury to the eye or the bone surrounding the eye

• Trouble seeing objects on the sides of your visual field

• Trouble telling the difference between colors that occurs suddenly

These symptoms mean you should see an eye care provider soon:

• Trouble seeing at night or reading

• Objects appearing less sharp

• Blurring of objects that are far away or near

• Itching or fluid from your eye

Vision care

Everyone should have a dilated eye exam every year or two, and a dilated exam annually after age 60, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). Between routine visits, you can take these essential steps, which may maintain or improve your vision:

• Eat at least 5 servings daily of fruits and vegetables.

• Don’t smoke.

• Take regular breaks while doing computer work and other tasks that mostly involve your eyes.

• Wear your glasses. This sounds obvious, but many people with low to moderate vision loss leave them at home or tucked in a pocket or purse because of vanity or forgetfulness.

• Wear sunglasses when outdoors that protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. Wear them even on cloudy days. 

• Closely follow the recommended schedule for cleaning and wearing contact lenses.

• Know your family's eye history and share this information with your healthcare providers.

• If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, make sure these conditions are under control.

What to do

Specific vision problems can benefit from specific solutions, according to the AOA:

• Sensitivity to bright light. Choose sunglasses that block 75% to 90% of visible light. In addition, sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of ultraviolet A and B radiation help protect against cataracts. Choose sunglasses that also block the blue wavelengths. Don't wear dark glasses at night or indoors. Doing so can make eyes more light-sensitive over time.

• Itchy, burning, or red eyes. These symptoms can result from dry eye conditions common after age 50, or from high mucous production in allergy-prone contact lens wearers. Using artificial tears may help with dry eye. Some allergy sufferers can get some help from switching to disposable or daily wear lenses. Contact lens wearers and adults older than 50 with these symptoms should consult an eye care professional for appropriate treatment.

• Trouble with glare. If nighttime headlight glare is an ongoing problem or if you work in visually demanding situations, ask your eye care professional about antireflection-coated lenses. These can help reduce glare and reflections both day and night. Remember, for older adults, an increased sense of glare may be a symptom of beginning cataracts and a reason to get an eye exam.

• Reduced vision in aging eyes. In addition to a new eyeglass lens prescription, a helpful measure for older eyes is to place more lamps in the home and install task lighting. Choose high-output fluorescent bulbs to increase light output while decreasing energy usage. Eliminate glare with indirect lighting.

• Problems with new glasses. If, after a few days of wearing new lenses, you continue to have blurred vision, double vision, or other problems, see your eye care provider. The problem may be solved by an adjustment to either the frame or the prescription.

• Annoying spots in front of your eyes. Generally, seeing spots or floaters is a common, harmless experience of aging. Seeing flashes, or, in some cases, "floaters," however, may signal something more serious like diabetic retinopathy or early-stage retinal detachment. Call your eye care provider right away if you have symptoms.