The following checklists offer helpful information about warning signs of eye disease, questions you should ask your eye care professional, and steps you can take to protect your family's eye health.

Six Warning Signs of Eye Disease

1. Decreased vision

Difficulty seeing while reading, watching TV, driving, while at work, or at recreation

Loss of peripheral or central vision

A curtain or veil coming over the vision

Difficulty seeing off to the side (e.g., when changing lanes while driving)

Check for differences in the vision of each eye by covering them one-at-a-time

2. Eye pain

Sharp or dull pain

Persistent pain

Eye hurts when touched

Persistent feeling that something is in the eye

Any eye pain, especially if associated with other warning signs

3. Drainage from the eye or redness of the eye

Crusting of the eye, especially in the morning

Discharge from the eye, especially if associated with pain

4. Floaters and flashes

Spider webs, dots, and floating matter that move

Flashing or flickering lights

5. Seeing halos around lights

May be only present in the morning and improve later in the day

Increased glare, e.g., when looking at headlights of oncoming cars

6. Double Vision (diplopia)

Seeing two images which may be side-by-side, up-and-down or sideways

May resolve when you cover one eye
* If you experience any of these signs, you should see your eye doctor.

Eye Care Provider Visit Checklist **

Do I need glasses?

If so, for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia?

Do you see any signs of problems in my eyes?

Cataract?
Macular degeneration?
Glaucoma. Is my eye pressure normal?
Dry eye?
Early signs of other diseases?

Are there any medical conditions that I should be concerned about because of anything you noted during my eye exam?

Diabetes
Hypertension
High cholesterol

When should I return for a follow-up exam?

When should I have my pupils dilated for a full exam of my retina?

Are there any eye diseases for which my family is at risk (e.g., AMD, genetic eye disease or glaucoma)?

** Take this list with you when you visit your eye doctor.

Five Things I Can Do to Protect My Family's Eye Health

1. Learn my family history of eye disease

2. Schedule eye exams for the whole family. Protect my eyes and those of my family.

3. Take the following measures to prevent eye injuries:

Wear and insist on protective safety goggles for sports, recreation, and when working with tools, metal, and chemicals at home or school

Store household chemicals (e.g., cleaners, paints, fertilizers) safely

Take steps to avoid exposure to pellet guns, bb guns, bows & arrows, toys with missiles and fireworks (These can cause serious eye injury.)

Wear sunglasses or a hat with a brim when outside in sunlight

4. Adopt a healthy lifestyle

Stop smoking or never start

Drink alcohol only in moderation

Maintain a healthy body weight by eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables and by exercising regularly

5. Know and act upon the warning signs of eye disease

*This information comes from womenseyehealth.org.