While everyone should have regular eye exams throughout their lifetime, the consequences for skipping these appointments aren't so dire when you're young. Serious eye conditions are not too common in younger people, and if your vision starts to decline, you usually notice and can make an appointment. When you reach your 40s, though, things change a bit. You can't afford to skip those eye appointments anymore, and in fact, you should schedule annual visits with an ophthalmologist — a medical doctor who specializes in eye health — so they can check for the following conditions.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition in which the pressure inside the eye increases. Over time, this causes damage to the optic nerve, resulting in permanent vision loss. By the time you start actually losing your vision, though, the disease has been progressing for a while. An ophthalmologist can measure your eye pressure and diagnose glaucoma long before you show symptoms, which means you can start treatment to keep the condition from progressing, thereby protecting your vision. The older you are, the greater your risk of glaucoma, and it's not uncommon for patients to first be diagnosed in their 40s.

Acute Macular Degeneration

There's a body of tissue in the back of your eye known as the macula. It helps with color vision and focus. A condition called acute macular degeneration can cause the macula to peel away from the eye tissues to which it is anchored. This can cause progressive vision loss. AMD does not usually appear until a person is in their 50s, but it can appear in 40-somethings. Since prompt diagnosis is essential to prevent total vision loss, it's, therefore, a smart idea to see an ophthalmologist for regular exams. A typical eye exam that just involves reading an eye chart won't be able to detect macular degeneration. You need a more detailed eye exam using a microscope tool, and that's what an ophthalmologist has to offer.

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye begins to become opaque. Over time, they cause your vision to become more cloudy. At first, you may only struggle to see at night, but eventually seeing in the daytime will be difficult, too. Cataracts can only be cured with surgery, but it's important that they are detected as soon as possible so your eye doctor can monitor their progress and help you take preventative actions to stop them from worsening so quickly. An ophthalmologist won't let cataracts go undetected!

By the time you reach your 40s, it's essential for you to be having regular checkups with an ophthalmologist. Contact an ophthalmology center near you to schedule your next appointment.