Young confident opthalmologist examining retina of mature female patient

How Often Should I See the Eye Doctor?

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If you have eyeglasses, go see the eye doctor every one to two years to get an updated prescription. However, if you don’t have eyeglasses, it may not be clear how often you should see the eye doctor. Knowing when to visit the eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can help you take care of your eyes. In this article, we’ll discuss the many factors to consider when trying to decide when it’s time to see the eye doctor.

Age Is a Factor

Children should see an eye doctor before they start kindergarten. During their eye exam, the eye doctor will check their eyes for conditions that could prevent them from seeing the whiteboard during lessons.

Adults should see an eye doctor at age 40 for an eye exam to find out if they have any conditions that could impact their vision. Adults over the age of 60 should see an eye doctor every one to two years to check for potential conditions that people in that age group are at risk for – conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.

At Risk People See the Eye Doctor More Often

Some people are at an elevated risk of contracting certain eye diseases. For example, people with diabetes are at higher risk of contracting glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. People who have diabetes may also get cataracts at a younger age.

If you have a condition that puts you at risk for any eye conditions, find out from your eye doctor how often you should go in for an eye examination in Champaign, IL. You should also see the eye doctor more often if you are taking a medication that puts you at risk or if you have a family history of genetic conditions (like glaucoma).

Call Today to Make An Appointment

Is it time for you to see the eye doctor? Call Champaign Eye Professionals to make an appointment.

Tired businessman rubbing his eyes during night work

Having Trouble With Night Vision?

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Night vision is incredibly important, especially when you’re driving! If you’re having trouble with your night vision, see the eye doctor in Champaign, IL. Your eye doctor at Champaign Eye Professionals can help you determine the cause of your trouble and make recommendations for improving your night vision.

Potential Causes

Poor vision in low lighting is not an eye disease but a symptom of another problem. There are many things that can potentially cause this kind of issue.

  • Cataracts – this condition causes the lens of the eye to become foggy
  • Nearsightedness (myopia) – this condition can be exacerbated when the eyes dilate in low-light conditions
  • Glaucoma medications – some of these medications work by restricting the pupil

Many of these issues have solutions, but treatment for poor night vision depends on the cause. To find out why you’re having trouble seeing at night, make an appointment with your eye doctor for an eye exam. Your eye doctor may prescribe corrective lenses or recommend a procedure that can help. Even if there’s no way to fix the problem, your eye doctor can still offer tips to help keep you safe in low-light conditions.

Tips to Drive Safely

If you have poor night vision, check with your eye doctor to be sure that driving at night is safe. If your eye doctor clears you for night driving, the following tips can help keep your journey safe:

  • Plan your route in advance
  • Keep lights inside the car down low
  • Wear corrective lenses for driving
  • Avoid driving unfamiliar routes in low light conditions
  • See the eye doctor regularly to catch changes in your vision before they become severe

Having trouble with night vision? The first step is to find out why. Call your eye doctor at Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule an eye exam in Champaign, IL.

Optometrist giving an eye exam

Does My Baby Have a Lazy Eye?

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A lazy eye is a condition that many parents notice in their children when their children are just babies. If your baby has a lazy eye, it’s helpful to know what that means and what you can do about the problem.

What Is a Lazy Eye?

A lazy eye is a condition also known as strabismus. A lazy eye occurs when the eyes don’t line up together. The eye that is straighter becomes the dominant eye, and the eye that is more crooked becomes the “lazy eye.” Babies eyes often cross when they’re firstborn. The lazy eye may straighten up when the baby is more awake and alert and then becomes more crooked when they’re tired.

Should I Be Concerned If My Baby Has a Lazy Eye?

While it’s common for babies to have some wandering and crossed eyes when they’re first born, this problem usually corrects itself by the time the baby is about four months old. If the problem hasn’t corrected itself within the first four months, it’s a good idea to take your baby to see the eye doctor for an eye examination in Champaign, IL. This is likely strabismus.

When Should My Child Get Treated for Strabismus?

The earlier that you bring your child to the eye doctor in Champaign, IL, the better. Strabismus is easier to correct when your child is very young and harder to correct as your child gets older. Working with an eye doctor from an early age can help ensure that your child will get their problem taken care of before it becomes permanent.

Does your baby have a wandering eye? Are you wondering if it could be strabismus? Make an appointment with your eye doctor at Champaign Eye Professionals. Call today.

3 Surprising Ways Eyes Can be Injured

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Your eye health is of paramount importance to your Champaign, IL eye doctor. With regular eye doctor appointments, you have the best chances of maintaining your vision for a lifetime. However, there are certain precautions you need to take at home, too. There are a surprising number of ways that eyes can be injured during everyday activities.

1. Paper Cuts

You wouldn’t think that something as innocuous as paper could endanger your vision. But consider an incident that happened a while back when a seated employee turned her head at the precise moment that her colleague, standing behind her, went to pass a piece of paper onto the desk. The resulting paper cut to the cornea was successfully treated, but this demonstrates how small accidents can cause great damage.

2. Tanning Beds

Many teens and young adults visit tanning beds, not knowing how dangerous the lights are to the eyes. Not wanting to have a ring around their eyes where the goggles are, they remove their goggles during the session. Hours later, they have scratchy, painful eyes that are swollen and red, with blurred vision on top of everything else. Injuries from tanning beds are not uncommon. If it happens once, chances are the eyes can recover after a day or two. But abusing the eyes in this way can eventually result in vision reduction.

3. Woodworking

Woodworking is a common pastime of Champaign, Illinois residents. Just be sure to wear safety goggles the entire time. Otherwise, the eyes are vulnerable to wood chip debris that flies through the air during cuts. There’s also the chance of wood chip dust, which is in the air, to make its way into the eyes.

A little bit of caution and care can prevent accidents like these. If you do have an eye injury, contact your eye doctor in Champaign, IL right away for help.