Even if you've never had major problems with your vision, they can change as you get older. Someone who's never worn glasses in their life can suddenly develop a need for them while reading, working at the computer, or for doing daily tasks. Our Mt. Pleasant optometrist, Dr. Papernick, will perform thorough and unhurried eye exams, designed to investigate your vision and eye health. In our office, we often see people who have gone for decades without needed vision correction, but who developed signs that it was time for a checkup. Here are five of the most common.

Ways to Tell Your Eyesight is Weakening

If you find yourself holding books and paperwork farther away than normal, your eyesight may be getting weaker. It's common for people to get a little farsighted as they age, making it difficult to see fine detail close up. Magnifying glasses might help, but seeing our doctor can do more for your eyesight.

Squinting is a sure sign that there's something wrong with your eyesight. It's natural to squint when in bright sunlight without sunglasses, but if you find yourself squinting just to clear your vision, it's time to get your vision checked.

Straining to see despite poor vision can cause severe headaches and even some forms of migraine. If you see a steady increase in the number of headaches you have, and haven't had any lifestyle changes, make an appointment for an eye exam. Don't suffer through the pain needlessly.

If your eyes are suddenly sensitive to light, or if you find them watering for no emotional reason, you may be suffering from an eye infection. Only an optometrist can tell for sure. If left unchecked, eye infections can affect your eyesight, so make an appointment as soon as possible.

Our eyesight changes constantly as we age, even if we can't see it. If it's been more than two years since your last eye exam, it's time to get another one. You may not need to change your prescription but, just like a checkup at the doctor's office, an eye exam is a great way to prevent small problems from becoming larger ones.

Contact our Mt. Pleasant optometrist at 724-547-5711 to schedule an appointment today!