It can be difficult at first to tell if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses, which is why it’s important that you have your eyes tested at least once a year so you can be assured of your optical health.
If you think you might be short-sighted (also known as myopia), you’ll likely find that objects in the distance start to appear a bit blurred, although you’ll still be able to see objects up close clearly. Short-sightedness is becoming increasingly common, with NHS figures suggesting that it affects up to one in three people.
Symptoms include regular rubbing of the eyes, headache or tired eye complaints, sitting closer to the television or needing to sit near the front of a classroom – certainly something to look out for if you have children who may well develop this kind of eye condition.
If your eye test does show that you are short-sighted, you can either wear glasses or contacts to help your eyes focus better on objects in the distance, or you could have artificial lens implants where a lens is permanently inserted into your eyes so they can focus. Bear in mind, however, that this latter treatment is not typically available on the NHS. Laser eye surgery could also be an option, although it’s not suitable for children and again is unlikely to be available on the NHS.
Other problems associated with short-sightedness you need to look out for include lazy eyes, squinting, glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment. If you’re concerned, make sure you book an appointment with your optician sooner rather than later.
If you need to stock up on contact lens cases, browse our website here at Optipak to see what we have in stock.
