With coronavirus restrictions now easing, many of us are slowly starting to get back to normal. An eye test may have been at the bottom of your to-do list during the pandemic, but if you haven’t been for a while it’s something you should consider doing very soon, especially if you are already a glasses wearer. 

Should glasses wearers have more frequent eye tests?

The simple answer is no, NHS guidance advises every adult should have their eyes tested every two years, even if you aren’t displaying any concerning symptoms in regards to your eye health. Many conditions can lie beneath the surface without presenting any symptoms, so glasses wearer or not, having regular eye tests is really important. However, if you’re concerned about something or something’s changed, you should book an appointment to see an optician as soon as possible.

Some conditions that can be diagnosed from an eye test include:

• Diabetes
• Dementia
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Tumours
• Arthritis

These diseases are more prevalent in old age but if you are worried you shouldn’t waste any time in getting to an optician. If reading something from a distance or close up has gotten difficult, or you’re struggling to see images or writing on a screen, you should always go for an eye test to be certain. This is also important if you’re experiencing vision problems while driving, such as having trouble seeing traffic signs, as this could put you and other people at risk. Most of the time it may be a simple solution of needing a pair of prescription glasses.

What to expect at your first eye test

It’s normal to be a little nervous for a new experience, but there’s nothing to worry about when going to your first eye test. During your checkup, the optometrist will likely ask you a lot of questions about your general health, activity, vision quality, and any glasses you wear.

You will most likely undergo some of these tests:

 

• Using a specific frame or equipment, you’ll read letters on a chart using various lenses.
• An ophthalmoscope is used to view into your eye. This will require the optician shining a bright light into your eye while instructing you to look in various directions. It’s not as painful as it sounds, we promise.
• The ‘puff of air’ test as it is commonly called is frequently used to check the pressure within the eye. This aids in the detection of glaucoma and other eye pressure issues.

After your test, your optician will discuss your results with you and explain any necessary treatments you may need, if at all.

Blue light glasses

Many of us spend our days at an office, sitting at a desk and tapping away at a computer. However, after four hours or more of gazing at a screen, our eyes may become fatigued or strained. Itching or a dry sensation in the eyes, as well as headaches and difficulties focusing, are all possible side effects. This is caused by the blue light rays which are emitted from our screens. Digital Media Lenses from Arlo Wolf can combat these harmful rays and lessen the chance of eye health problems. You can upgrade to blue light lenses when purchasing any of our women’s and men’s optical glasses to help with eye fatigue at your desk.

Protecting our eyes from the sun

The sun can cause a variety of different issues to your eye health if they aren’t being protected adequately. Cataracts, which are little foggy areas on the lens of the eye, is a long-term eye condition that can be induced by sun exposure. Lengthy UV exposure is also linked to macular degeneration, which causes a progressive decrease in central vision.

You can read our blog on how to treat sun damaged eyes, and browse our range of stylish sunglasses for women and sunglasses for men. All our sunglasses come fitted with UV400 lenses as standard, so you’re 100% protected from UVA and UVB rays. Protection doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style with Arlo Wolf! 

Try before you buy with Arlo Wolf

If you’ve been told you need glasses by your optician, and you’re not sure what look you want to go for, Arlo Wolf is the perfect place to look! You can choose up to four pairs of glasses from across our entire range and try them all on at home before committing to buy. Buying prescription glasses has never been so exciting until now! We also have a helpful face shapes guide that advises what glasses styles are most suited to your face.