What Causes Frequent Changes in Lens Prescriptions

Many factors, some expected and some avoidable, can lead to changes in your prescription.

1. Natural Ageing & Presbyopia

As we age, especially in our 40s, the natural lens inside the eye becomes less flexible, making near vision more challenging. This leads to presbyopia, the process that causes many to need reading glasses or multifocals.

Also, the eye’s anatomy changes subtly: the lens thickens, the cornea’s curvature may shift slightly, and the eye’s focusing muscles alter. These small changes can gradually push your prescription numbers.

For more information about your eyes and ageing, read our guide on How To Manage Your Vision As You Age here.

2. Progressive Eye Conditions & Eye Growth

• Children & Teenagers: Eyes are still growing, which often leads to more frequent changes in prescription.
• Myopia Progression: Especially common in younger people, influenced by genetics and visual habits.
• Astigmatism Shifts: Even slight changes in corneal shape can adjust cylinder power or axis.

3. Health Conditions & Systemic Factors

Medical conditions or changes in your body’s internal environment can impact vision:

• Diabetes: High or unstable blood sugar levels can temporarily affect vision by altering the shape or clarity of the lens.
• Hormonal Changes: For example, during pregnancy, menopause, or hormone therapies, temporary vision changes can occur — our guide to how hormonal changes can affect your vision covers this in more depth.
• Medications: Certain drugs (steroids, antihistamines) can affect ocular pressure, lens shape, or tear film, influencing the effective prescription.

4. Environmental & Lifestyle Factors

• Increased Digital Screen Time: Prolonged near work and screen exposure can cause eye strain and focus fatigue, which may mimic or encourage prescription shifts.
• Poor Lighting or Habitual Posture: Reading in dim light or tilting your head may prompt your eyes to adjust in compensatory ways, which can later be reflected in a new prescription.
• Uncorrected Refractive Error: If you don’t consistently wear your prescribed glasses or contacts, your eyes may adapt in small ways, though this usually doesn’t permanently shift your prescription; it can cause discomfort and fluctuations.

5. Measurement or Testing Variability

Sometimes prescription changes between visits are due to differences in testing conditions:

• Subtle differences in technician testing, refraction technique, lighting, patient fatigue or focus can cause slight variations.
• Your eye’s state at the time (dryness, accommodation, stress) can lead to slight variations in the measured prescription.

Thus, small changes (+/-0.25 diopters) are often within normal test variation, not necessarily indicative of true physiological changes.

What Can You Do If You Have a Sudden Change in Eye Prescription?

If your vision shifts noticeably over a short period, it’s wise to take some deliberate steps rather than simply ordering stronger glasses.

Book a Comprehensive Eye Examination as Soon as Possible

A sudden shift may reflect something more than just a refractive change; your optometrist will also check your ocular health (including retina, pressure, and lens clarity) in addition to refraction.

Share Your Symptoms & Medical History

Inform your optometrist if you’ve had any health changes (diabetes, medications, hormonal shifts) or new symptoms (headaches, flashing lights, floaters).

Allow For an Adaptation Period

If a new prescription is stronger, your eyes may take days to adjust fully. Wear the new glasses consistently, unless they cause discomfort or worsening vision.

Check the Fit & Accuracy of Frames & Lenses

Sometimes distortions arise from misaligned lenses or frame displacement rather than the prescription itself.

Follow Up & Monitor Vision

If changes persist, or the new prescription doesn’t feel right, a re-examination or refinement might be needed.

If Urgent Warning Sights Appear, Act Fast

Sudden vision loss, flashing lights, floaters, or severe pain warrant immediate medical attention beyond routine. Schedule a same-day emergency eye assessment if needed.

Is a Sudden Change in Eye Prescription Something to Worry About?

Most of the time, a prescription shift is routine and benign. But in some cases, it can signal an underlying issue.

When It’s Probably Normal

• Gradual worsening over months rather than days
• Small changes (0.25 or 0.50 dioptres) without other symptoms
• Occurs during expected life phases (e.g. entering your 40s, in youth)
• No accompanying eye health warning signs (pain, flashes, visual distortion)

When You Should Be Concerned & Seek Prompt Attention

• Rapid or large changes in prescription (e.g. 1.0 dioptre or more in weeks)
• Sudden onset of new visual phenomena: flashes, floaters, shadows, veils
• Distortion of straight lines, central vision blur, or blind spots
• Eye pain, redness, sudden vision loss, or trauma

These may indicate retinal issues, glaucoma, lens changes (such as cataracts), macular problems, or vascular issues. Early detection matters; the sooner treated, the better the outcome.

Your eyes change over time; that’s a natural process. However, understanding why your prescription changes, what to do when adjustments occur, and when to seek urgent care is crucial. At D.I. Blow Opticians, we are committed to guiding every client through these changes with expertise, care, and the latest technology. If you’ve recently noticed sudden or persistent changes in your vision, please contact us for a comprehensive assessment. Once you have an updated prescription, a straightforward change can often be turned around fast — see our guide on getting your eye test and glasses on the same day. Stay vigilant, take care of your systemic health, and let us help you maintain clear, comfortable vision across every stage of life.

The post Why Your Eye Prescription Can Change Over Time appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Regular eye exams keep your vision at its best, but they also help detect eye diseases early — many of which could go unnoticed for a long period of time. A comprehensive eye exam can also help flag other health problems, including signs of high blood pressure and diabetes, long before you’d notice symptoms yourself.

During a routine eye exam, your optometrist will check your:

• Visual Acuity: How clearly you can see
• Eye Alignment: Where each eye is looking when you focus on one spot
• Eye Movement: How your muscles move your eyes around

The following are signs you need an eye exam, even if you think you don’t.

1. You Don’t Remember When Your Last Eye Exam Was

Typically, you should go for an eye test every 2 years. If you are predisposed to certain risk factors or are above the age of 65, this could change to every year.

Many eye diseases have no obvious symptoms at first and they may go unnoticed and continue to worsen over time. Regular eye exams can help lead to getting treated sooner and avoiding a worst-case scenario.

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for treating common eye diseases such as:

• Cataracts: The clouding of the lenses in your eyes, which can lead to vision loss
• Glaucoma: A disease that damages your optic nerves
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): The gradual loss of tissues in your eye that use light to see
• Diabetic Retinopathy: Damage to blood vessels in the back of your eyes, which can cause blindness

An OCT scan can now detect many of these conditions years before symptoms appear, often as a simple add-on to your regular eye test.

2. You Are At High Risk For Eye Diseases

Like with other aspects of your health, there are certain factors that can increase your risk of developing eye diseases — some of these, however, are out of your control.

You should get your eyes checked every year if you:

• Have a personal or family history of eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.
• Have diabetes, which can potentially lead to diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or cataracts.
• Have a chronic health condition such as high blood pressure or heart disease.
• Have had eye surgery or an eye injury in the past.
• Have a job that’s visually demanding, such as working on a computer all day.
• Are of African American or Mexican American descent.
• Wear contact lenses.
• Have eyesight that continues to worsen over time.

3. You Have Allergies

If your eyes are often red and irritated, but you don’t see anything in them, you’re probably suffering from allergies. You might not get the telltale signs of sneezing, sniffing, or a blocked nose, but you may have eye allergies if you’re experiencing:

• Redness
• Burning
• Itchiness
• Clear, watery discharge from the eyes

Eye allergies can be caused by a range of things including:

• Outdoor allergens such as grass, trees, pollen, weeds
• Indoor allergens such as pet dander/fur, mould, dust mites
• Irritants such as smoke or perfume

Depending on the severity of your allergies, your optometrist might recommend you use over-the-counter or prescription eye drops and medications. Having an eye exam can also give you confirmation as to whether your symptoms are allergy-based in the first place.

4. You Notice Your Vision Getting Worse

It might seem obvious, but if you notice that you’re struggling a little more to read road signs or this blog post on your screen, then you need to book in for an eye exam. It’s easy to say it’s not a big difference and you can still cope, but catching changes in your vision early is important for long lasting healthy vision.

Vision problems can make it difficult to go about your daily routine, but eye strain can also cause headaches. This happens when your eyes aren’t focusing as they should, causing them to work harder than normal. Most often, a headache caused by eye strain will occur after you’ve used your eyes for fine, concentration work such as reading, working on the computer, or sewing.

5. Difficulty Adjusting Your Vision Between Distances

If you find it increasingly difficult to adjust your vision when transitioning from near to far objects or vice versa, it could be a sign of underlying vision issues.

Your eyes should be able to adapt smoothly to varying distances. Difficulty in doing so might indicate problems like presbyopia or other vision changes.

6. Having Trouble Seeing or Driving at Night

Night vision problems, including glare from headlights, halos around lights, or trouble seeing road signs and pedestrians in low-light conditions, can indicate various eye conditions.

Poor night vision can pose a significant risk, especially for driving, as it impacts your ability to react promptly to road hazards. Meeting the standard vision requirements for driving as set by the DVLA is essential for road safety.

Book yourself in for an eye exam before heading back out on the road.

7. You Have Diabetes

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that affects the blood vessels in the retina.

Regular eye exams are essential for the early detection and management of diabetic eye complications. For those with diabetes, having an eye exam every year is often recommended.

For more information on diabetes, your eyes, and diabetic retinopathy, read our blog here.

8. You See Flashing Lights or Large Floaters

Floaters are those tiny squiggles, circles, or lines that you sometimes see floating in your field of vision. Although they appear to be in front of your eyes, they are actually the shadows cast by microscopic fibres in the vitreous fluid inside your eyes.

Seeing flashing lights or floaters occasionally is normal and you will see them more as you age.

However, if you see an unusually large number of flashing lights or floaters, you may have had a retinal tear or detachment.

9. You’re Extra Sensitive to Light

It’s normal to experience some degree of light sensitivity (photophobia) as your eyes transition from indoor lighting to outdoor sunshine.

However, if your eyes are sensitive to light, this could be a sign of serious eye conditions such as a corneal abrasion, cataracts, or keratoconus.

It’s always worth checking with your optometrist.

FAQs

What Are the Signs You Need an Eye Test?

Common signs include struggling to read signs or screens clearly, frequent headaches after reading or screen use, difficulty adjusting your focus between near and far objects, trouble seeing at night or when driving, and noticing more floaters or flashes of light than usual. If you don’t remember your last eye test, that’s a sign in itself — most adults should have one every 2 years.

How Do I Know If I Need an Eye Test?

If it’s been more than 2 years since your last eye test (or a year if you’re over 65, diabetic, or have a family history of eye disease), it’s worth booking one even without obvious symptoms — many eye conditions develop gradually with no early warning signs.

How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Tested?

Every 2 years for most adults, or annually if you’re over 65, have diabetes, have a family history of eye disease, or wear contact lenses.

–

Aside from getting your eyes checked regularly, small lifestyle changes can help protect your eye health too — maintaining a healthy weight, wearing sunglasses with 100% UV protection, eating a balanced diet, and not smoking.

Is it time to schedule yourself in for an eye exam? If your prescription is straightforward, you could even get your eye test and new glasses on the same day. Book yourself in for a comprehensive eye exam with D. I. Blow Opticians today to ensure that you have lifelong healthy vision.

The post Signs You Might Need An Eye Exam – Even If You Think You Don’t appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Seeing an optometrist, or ophthalmologist, regularly helps keep your eye health in check and can also help to diagnose health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

During your eye exam, an optometrist will check your visual acuity (how clearly you can see), your eye alignment (where each eye is looking when you focus on one spot), and your eye movement (how your muscles move your eyes around).

So, When Did You Last Have An Eye Exam? Here Are Some Signs That You Might Need One:

1. You Simply Don’t Remember When You Last Had One

It is recommended for adults to have an eye test every year. Not knowing when your last one was is a good enough reason to book yourself in for an eye test.

It’s important to know that many eye diseases have no symptoms at first, so having regular eye tests can be the key to early diagnosis and treatment.

Some common eye diseases that this applies to are:

• Glaucoma: The name for a group of eye diseases characterised by increased intraocular pressure that can damage the optic nerve, potentially leading to vision loss or blindness.
• Cataracts: The clouding of the lenses in your eyes which can lead to vision loss.
• Age-related macular degeneration: The gradual loss of tissues in your eye that use light to see.
• Diabetic retinopathy: The damage to blood vessels in the back of your eyes which can lead to blindness.

Many of these conditions can now be detected years before symptoms appear using an OCT scan, a quick, painless addition to your standard eye test.

2. Your Vision Is Getting Worse

Are you struggling to read text on a screen or in a book? Can’t quite make out that sign in the distance? You should book in at your local opticians. Even more so if it is affecting your day-to-day life.

Do you find yourself getting frequent headaches? This can be caused by eye strain from worsening vision and should also act as a sign to book in for an appointment soon.

You might also be experiencing a change in your eyes, this may include:

• Eye pain
• Flashes of light
• Floaters
• Double vision
• Circles or halos around lights
• Redness in one or both eyes

3. You Have Allergies

Some tell-tale signs to look out for in terms of eye allergies are:

• Redness
• Itchiness
• Burning
• Clear, watery discharge

Your eye allergies could be caused by:

• Outdoor allergens such as grass, pollen, and trees.
• Indoor allergens such as pet fur, dust, and mould.
• Irritants such as smoke or perfume.

Having an eye exam can give you confirmation as to your struggle being allergy-based, along with your optometrist being able to recommend what over-the-counter eye drops and medications you can use.

4. You Are ‘High Risk’ For Eye Diseases

Like many other aspects of your health, certain genetics factors and lifestyle choices can increase your risk of developing an eye disease. If this is you, you should definitely be getting your eyes checked at least once a year.

Here are some factors that make you high risk:

• Have a personal or family history or eye diseases.
• Have diabetes.
• Have a visually demanding job, e.g. using a computer or screens all day.
• Wearing contact lenses.
• Had a recent eye injury or eye surgery.
• Are getting older.
• Have high amounts of UV exposure.
• Have a chronic health condition such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

–

Aside from getting your eyes checked regularly, we also recommend taking small steps and making lifestyle changes to maintain your eye health, these can include maintaining a healthy weight, wearing sunglasses with 100% UV ray protection, eating a healthy diet, and quitting smoking.

The post How To Tell If You Need an Eye Test appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

The post Protect Your Eyes From UV Rays This Summer appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

As parents, we prioritise our children’s health and well-being in every aspect of their lives. Yet, when it comes to vision, it’s easy to overlook the need for regular eye exams. We want you to understand the importance of scheduling routine eye exams for children and how early detection of vision issues can positively impact their academic performance and overall quality of life.

The post The Importance of Regular Eye Exams for Children appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Ageing brings many changes, and your vision is no exception. As we grow older, our eyes undergo various changes that can affect our vision. These changes range from a gradual need for reading glasses to more serious conditions that can develop gradually over several years, which is why understanding what’s normal — and what warrants a closer look — becomes increasingly important with age.

The post Vision and Ageing: Common Eye Conditions and How to Manage Them appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Understanding Hay Fever’s Impact On Eyes

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is triggered by pollen, dust mites, and pet hair. These allergens can cause allergic conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids).

Common symptoms include:

• Itching: A persistent, uncomfortable sensation that makes you want to rub your eyes — caused both by pollen landing in the eyes and by the release of histamine, which irritates nerve endings.
• Redness: The inflammation and dilation of blood vessels in the eyes as they try to fight off the irritant.
• Watering: Excessive tearing as the eyes attempt to wash away allergens, which can also blur your vision.
• Grittiness: A feeling of sand or grit in the eyes, which can be particularly irritating.

Can Hay Fever Affect Your Vision?

Alongside these symptoms, hay fever can have a more direct impact on your vision:

• Eye fatigue: Itching of the eyes and rubbing can lead to strain and eye fatigue.
• Blurred vision: Swelling and inflammation in and around the eyes can lead to blurry vision.
• Double vision: Hay fever can occasionally cause the eye muscles to weaken, leading to double vision.
• Decreased visual acuity: In extreme cases, hay fever allergies can lead to decreased visual acuity or temporary vision loss.

Managing Symptoms

To alleviate the symptoms of hay fever and protect your eye health, consider the following:

Minimise Allergen Exposure:

• Stay Indoors: On days with high pollen counts, try to stay indoors as much as possible, especially during the early morning and late afternoon when pollen levels are typically highest.
• Use Air Conditioning: Keep windows closed and use air conditioning to filter out pollen and other allergens.
• Clean Regularly: Vacuum and dust your home frequently to remove allergens. Consider using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Medications:

• Antihistamines: These medications can help reduce the body’s reaction to allergens. They are available in both oral and eye drop forms.
• Decongestants: These can help reduce redness and swelling in the eyes, but should be used with caution and not for extended periods.
• Anti-allergy eye drops: These target the site of inflammation directly. Make sure to check if the eye drops are compatible with contact lenses.
• Mast cell stabiliser eye drops: These prevent the allergic reaction and the release of histamine, treating the symptoms before they start.
• Steroid eye drops: Best used in severe cases and only available on prescription, these are powerful anti-inflammatories — but come with the risk of side effects such as damaging the cornea, glaucoma, and cataracts, so should only be used under professional guidance.
• Cold Compresses: Applying a cold, damp cloth to your closed eyes can help reduce inflammation and soothe itching. Do this several times a day for relief.

Protecting Your Eyes

In addition to managing symptoms, take proactive steps to protect your eyes from further irritation:

1. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes: Rubbing can worsen symptoms by spreading allergens and causing additional irritation. It can also lead to the release of more histamines, worsening the allergic response.
2. Wear Sunglasses: When outdoors, wear sunglasses to help shield your eyes from pollen, dust, and other airborne allergens.
3. Wear Glasses Instead of Contact Lenses: Especially when the pollen count is high, contact lenses can trap allergens against the eye.
4. Hydrate Your Eyes: Use lubricating eye drops to moisten your eyes and flush out allergens.
5. Rinse Your Eyes Regularly: Use an eyewash to remove any dust and pollen from the surface of the eyes.
6. Maintain Good Eye Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently to avoid transferring allergens to your eyes.
7. Home Humidity: To prevent dry eyes, maintain an optimal indoor humidity level (around 40-50%). Use a humidifier if necessary.

Additional Tips

• Monitor Pollen Forecasts: Use weather apps or websites to check daily pollen counts and plan your outdoor activities accordingly.
• Shower and Change Clothes: After spending time outdoors, shower and change your clothes to remove pollen and other allergens.
• Eye Makeup: Be cautious with eye makeup as it can trap allergens. Consider using hypoallergenic products and removing makeup thoroughly each night.

By understanding hay fever triggers and implementing these strategies, you can minimise discomfort and protect your eye health during allergy season. If you’re still experiencing symptoms after trying all preventative and treatment measures, book yourself in with your local opticians for personalised advice and treatment options.

Take control of your eye health this hay fever season. Schedule an eye examination with us today to ensure your vision remains clear and comfortable all year round.

The post Navigating Hay Fever Season: Tips for Eye Allergy Relief appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Vision problems in children can have a significant impact on their learning, development, and overall quality of life.

At D.I. Blow Opticians, we recognise the importance of early detection and intervention for maintaining optimal vision in children. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the key signs to watch out for that may indicate a vision problem in your child.

Key Signs Of Vision Problems In Children

1. Squinting or Eye Rubbing:

If you notice your child frequently squinting or rubbing their eyes, it could be a sign of vision strain or fatigue. Squinting helps to temporarily improve focus by reducing the amount of light entering the eye.

Similarly, eye rubbing may indicate discomfort or irritation, often associated with conditions such as dry eye or allergies. Persistent squinting or eye rubbing warrants further evaluation by an optometrist to rule out underlying vision issues.

2. Sitting Close to the TV or Holding Books Close to the Face:

Children with uncorrected vision problems may instinctively sit closer to the television or hold books and electronic devices close to their face to compensate for blurred vision. This behaviour can indicate short sightedness (myopia) or other refractive errors that affect distance vision.

If your child consistently exhibits this behaviour, it may be time to schedule an eye examination.

3. Complaints of Headaches or Eye Strain:

Frequent complaints of headaches, eye strain, or fatigue, especially after reading or engaging in close-up tasks, can signal underlying vision problems.

Children may struggle to articulate their discomfort accurately, so it’s essential to pay attention to subtle cues and observe any changes in behaviour or mood associated with visual tasks.

4. Avoidance of Near or Distance Activities:

Children with undetected vision problems may avoid activities that require clear vision, such as reading, drawing, or participating in sports. They may express reluctance or frustration when asked to engage in tasks that strain their visual abilities.

Observing your child’s participation in various activities can provide valuable insights into their visual comfort and confidence.

5. Poor Academic Performance:

Vision plays a crucial role in learning, and undiagnosed vision problems can hinder a child’s academic progress. If your child demonstrates difficulties with reading comprehension, writing, or focusing on classroom tasks, it’s essential to consider the possibility of underlying vision issues.

Regular eye examinations can help identify and address vision problems early, allowing children to thrive academically. To understand why these check-ups matter so much, and how often your child should have one, see our full guide on the importance of regular eye exams for children.

If your child is due an exam, our guide on what to expect in children’s eye tests walks through exactly what happens, from first infant exams to what age to start.

Already had the test done? Our guide on understanding the results of your child’s eye test explains what those results actually mean. And if screens are a big part of your child’s day, our guide on screen time and children’s eyes covers what parents should know.

With Easter half-term approaching, now is an excellent time to ensure your child’s eyes are in good health. Schedule an eye examination at D.I. Blow Opticians and give them the gift of clear vision and academic success.

Recognising the signs of vision problems in children is the first step towards ensuring their visual health and overall well-being.

The post How to Recognise Signs of Vision Problems in Children appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

For many people, a routine trip to the opticians is just another visit or another errand to run. However, for some, eye exam anxiety can be crippling and can be the deciding factor about whether a person attends their eye examination or not. Missing an eye exam isn’t ideal, especially if you don’t have your eyes checked regularly, so attending your appointment is vital.

The good news is, there are ways to help your anxiety subside and here at D.I Blow Opticians, we’re here to help, whatever your needs are. Preparing for an eye exam can be challenging, however, it’s not impossible.

Firstly, let’s examine some of the reasons why a person might be worried about an eye test.

Potential reasons for eye exam anxiety

The fear of needing glasses or contact lenses

For many people, the thought of needing glasses or contact lenses can be terrifying – this is just one of many ways of how eye exam anxiety can be induced. Glasses can completely transform a person’s appearance, but this can be an exciting opportunity to try out something new, and our team will always help find the perfect pair to suit you in a relaxed & comfortable environment.

If that’s not for you, contact lenses may be a more discreet option. Contact lens fitting may also be a cause of anxiety, but not to worry – at D.I. Blow Opticians, we stock the newest and most breathable contact lenses, built for comfort, and we will take our time to guide you through the contact lens fitting and process.

The discovery of an eye disease or worse

Are you worried about your eye test? If so, is it because you’re afraid your optometrist might find something unexpected or confirm your worst fears? We understand that this is another common fear and again, it’s not unusual. However, it’s important to remember that the likelihood of your optometrist finding a life-threatening disease is very small. Your optometrist will perform all of the necessary checks to ensure your eyes are completely healthy and may even perform additional checks if you have diabetes or a history of glaucoma in your family. However, the good news is that the earlier eye conditions are detected, the easier they are to treat. This is why regular eye examinations are important. Many of our practices also offer an OCT scan alongside your eye test — a quick, painless scan that gives your optometrist, and you, extra reassurance by capturing a detailed image of the back of your eye.

A fear of eyes (ommetaphobia)

Ommetaphobia refers to the fear of eyes. Believe it or not, whilst this condition is incredibly rare, it can be triggered by negative experiences in the past such as an eye injury or social anxiety. People with ommetaphobia will often avoid visiting the opticians as simple activities such as undergoing an eye exam, putting contact lenses in or seeing fake eyes can trigger symptoms such as sweating, dizziness and increased heart rate. If you think you might suffer from ommetaphobia, we would advise speaking to your GP who can advise on treatment.

How to prepare for an eye exam when you have anxiety

So, we’ve looked at just a few of the reasons why a person might have eye exam anxiety, but what can you do to ensure you remain calm throughout the examination?

If you’re worried about your eye test and you want to ensure your nerves don’t get in the way, there are multiple steps you can take to prepare:

1. Ask lots of questions

If you’re nervous about your eye exam, sometimes it can be down to something as little as the unknown. As humans, we naturally fear the unknown, so remember to ask lots of questions during your examination and be open and honest. Remember, no question is a silly question.

2. Remember to breathe

It sounds so simple, but when we’re nervous, we naturally take quick, shallow breaths which only heightens stress levels. Diaphragmatic breathing or deep breathing will allow your mind to focus on one thing and calm your anxiety levels.

3. Think of the benefits

Anxiety and vision are one of those things that many people suffer with. However, one of the ways to reduce your anxiety levels is to think of the benefits prior to your examination. Regular, routine-led check-ups are beneficial for you and your eye health and can help resolve any problems before they become problematic.

4. Remember, you’re not alone

Many people suffer with eye exam anxiety – you’re never alone. Remember, your optometrist is there to answer any questions you might have, big or small. Don’t be afraid to voice your feelings or express any concerns that you might have. Your optometrist will do all that they can to steady your nerves and keep you calm during the examination.

5. Have regular appointments

If you find yourself constantly worried about your eye test, one of the best ways you can overcome this fear is by facing it. Regular appointments will help you get a better understanding of the procedure, what to expect, and the duration. This will ignite a sense of familiarity so you know what to expect next time round and in turn, allow you to feel more calm and collected.

Now you know what to do before an eye exam and how to prepare, you should be well on your way to getting your eye health in the best state it’s ever been in.

Remember, we’re here for you at D.I. Blow Opticians and we’re always on hand to answer any questions that you have prior, during or after your examination.

You’re not alone and you never will be.

The post Eye Exam Anxiety: 5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Visiting the Opticians appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.