Seven signs it is time for a Vision7 exam, not just a new pair of glasses

Many people treat their eyes like a phone battery: they wait until something fails. Then they walk into an optical shop asking for stronger glasses. Sometimes that is all you need. Sometimes it is not. Here are seven signs that point to a full exam, and a short list of symptoms that should not wait for one.

Symptoms that mean go now

If you get sudden vision loss, a curtain or shadow across your vision, a burst of new floaters, or flashes of light, seek urgent medical care. Go to an ophthalmologist or emergency department. Do not book a routine appointment and do not wait. The same applies to severe eye pain or a sudden red, painful eye.

We cannot diagnose anything from a blog, and this list is not a diagnosis. It is a prompt to get examined.

Seven signs to book an exam

1. You squint to read signs, menus or your phone. Squinting means your eyes are working to compensate for something. An exam finds out what.

2. Headaches after reading or screen use. Headaches have many causes, so do not assume it is your eyes. An outdated prescription is one cause an exam can rule in or out.

3. Your old glasses feel wrong. If you keep taking them off, or they no longer feel sharp, your prescription may have changed.

4. Halos or glare around headlights at night. This is worth checking, particularly if you drive or ride on Metro Manila roads after dark. It has more than one possible cause, and the exam tells them apart.

5. You hold things further away to read. This is common after 40. It is called presbyopia, and it is a normal change, but it needs a proper measurement.

6. A family history of eye disease, or a health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. These are recognised reasons for regular eye exams. Tell the optometrist about them.

7. It has been a long time since your last exam. Ask your optometrist how often you should return. The answer depends on your age, your prescription and your health.

What makes a Vision7 exam different from a quick check

A quick vision screening tells you whether you can read a chart. A Vision7 exam has seven steps, and each has a job:

• Case history taking
• Visual acuity taking
• Objective refraction
• Subjective refraction
• Binocular eye exam
• Visual health exam
• Diagnosis and management

The sixth step screens for external eye disease. The seventh gives you a plan. If anything looks abnormal, you are referred to an ophthalmologist. We do not treat disease in the store, and we will say so plainly.

Do not skip the exam because your glasses still work

Glasses can feel fine while something else is changing. Many eye conditions cause no early symptoms, which is exactly why exams exist. A new lens does not fix a problem it was never designed to fix.

Bring these to your appointment

• Your current glasses
• Any previous prescription
• A list of medications and health conditions
• A note of your symptoms and when they happen

The more the optometrist knows, the better the exam.

After the exam

If the exam shows you need a new lens, you will have options. If it shows a health concern, you will get a referral. In both cases you leave with information you did not have before. That has value even if you decide not to buy anything.

What to do next

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store. The seven-step exam checks your vision, how your eyes work together, and the outside health of your eyes, all in one visit with a licensed optometrist.

Ask for Shamir Opulens Exact at the counter if your prescription has changed. It is the lens we name after a prescription change, made to your measurements in 7 to 9 days. If you need a pair sooner, ask about Opulens Advanced 1.60, ready in 20 minutes. Every Vision Express pair also comes with free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning, free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment, and a 1-year warranty.