November 2024

If you don’t wear contacts or eyeglasses, you may not think you need an eye exam. And if you do wear glasses and they’re still serving you well, you may think you can skip that routine eye exam.

But regular eye exams aren’t just to ensure you have the right prescription for corrective lenses — if you even need them. They’re also essential for catching problems that could lead to blindness if left untreated.

Here are four common eye problems that can lead to blindness if not caught — and treated — early:

Cataracts: Inside each eye, you have a natural lens that is clear and helps focus the light that comes into it, enabling you to see. Cataracts happen when this lens becomes cloudy instead of clear.

Diabetic retinopathy: This disease causes the blood vessels in the retina to swell, leak, or close off completely. All diabetics are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, especially those whose blood sugar isn’t well managed.

Glaucoma: This is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged. This damage to the optic nerve is often (though not always) caused by elevated eye pressure.

Age-related macular degeneration: This is a disease where the macula (part of the retina) begins to break down. This causes you to slowly lose your central vision, though not your peripheral (side) vision.

The CDC recommends that everyone with diabetes should get a dilated eye exam regularly. People at higher risk for glaucoma should get one every other year. This includes:

• People who are 60+.
• Black Americans who are 40+.
• Anyone with a family history of glaucoma.