There are many ways your vision can be negatively impacted at some point in your life. Many eye diseases can be successfully treated when discovered in the early stages. While many of these eye diseases may not offer you obvious red flags in the early stages, a visit to the optometrist can give you a chance of catching a serious disease while it's highly treatable. This is why you should be honest with yourself if you are at a higher than normal risk of developing an eye disease and make it a point to see the optometrist. Here are some instances when you should see an optometrist in order to either rule an issue out or get diagnosed and start treatment as soon as possible: 

There is a family history of health issues that can affect your eyes in your family

Many health issues can get passed down through the family line. This is no different for many types of eye diseases. Your genetics can significantly increase your chances of developing such eye diseases as: 

• Age-related macular degeneration

• Glaucoma

• Cataracts

• Retinitis pigmentosa

Your genetics can also increase your chances of developing other diseases and conditions that can also result in problems with your eyes. For example, your family history can determine the likeliness of you getting diabetes at some point in your life. If you do get diabetes at some point in your lifetime, then this would significantly increase your chances of developing such issues as cataracts or glaucoma. If you have any family history of conditions that can affect your eyes at some point, then you need to be even more diligent about going in for routine eye exams. 

You spend many hours of the day in front of a screen

If your job demands you to spend the majority of your day working on a computer, you spend a significant amount of time playing online games, or one of your favorite things to do is to spend time on your smart device, then your eyes can be at an increased risk of developing eye problems. If you know you are spending a lot of time in front of a screen, then you should see an optometrist to ensure it isn't affecting your eyes. 

You are pregnant

Many people experience changes in their vision when they are pregnant. When pregnant, there are changes going on in your body such as an increase in the amount of fluid your body retains, hormonal changes, and an increase in your blood volume. In some, these changes can affect the health of their eyes. Therefore, it's a good idea for you to see an optometrist when you are pregnant.