{"id":6004822,"date":"2026-11-03T16:50:47","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T15:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/?p=6004822"},"modified":"2026-11-03T16:52:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T15:52:27","slug":"routine-check-ups-the-importance-of-early-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/artigo\/exames-de-rotina-a-importancia-do-diagnostico-precoce\/","title":{"rendered":"Routine check-ups: the importance of early diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"product\"><div class=\"product\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our eyesight is with us at virtually every moment of the day. However, we do not always give it the attention it deserves, especially when we have no trouble seeing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What many people do not realise is that some eye conditions can develop silently, without causing any obvious symptoms in the early stages. This is precisely why routine eye tests play such an important role in maintaining eye health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">October, the month in which World Sight Day is observed, is an opportunity to remind ourselves that looking after our eyes should not be something we only think about when problems arise.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why are regular eye tests so important?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We often associate a visit to an eye specialist with the need to change our glasses or correct changes in our vision. However, a comprehensive eye examination allows for the assessment of much more than just our ability to see things up close or at a distance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Through appropriate examinations, it is possible to identify changes that might go unnoticed in everyday life and to detect signs of certain eye conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Early diagnosis makes it possible, in many cases, to begin monitoring or treatment in good time, thereby reducing the risk of complications and vision loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even when everything seems to be fine, your eye health deserves attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Eye conditions that may progress without symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some conditions can cause vision to deteriorate gradually, making early diagnosis particularly important.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h5><b>Glaucoma<\/b><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve and which, in many cases, progresses without symptoms in its early stages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vision loss associated with glaucoma is irreversible. However, early detection and appropriate treatment can help to delay or prevent the progression of the disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h5><b>Diabetic retinopathy<\/b><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the early stages, it may not cause any noticeable changes to vision, which is why regular eye check-ups are particularly important for people with diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h5><b>Eye strain and visual discomfort<\/b><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prolonged use of digital devices, the demands of work and everyday habits can contribute to symptoms such as blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches and eye strain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Although eye strain is not, in itself, a progressive eye condition, these symptoms warrant attention, particularly when they are frequent or persistent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A visual assessment can help to identify the causes and find suitable solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How often should we have our eyes tested?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There is no single frequency that applies to everyone. Age, family history, health conditions and the presence of visual impairments are all factors that influence the need for regular check-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">People with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma or other conditions that increase the risk of eye disease may need more frequent check-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most important thing is not to wait for symptoms to appear before seeking medical advice, and to follow the schedule recommended by your eye care professional.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Small gestures that make a difference<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As well as routine eye tests, there are certain habits that help to promote comfort and good eye health:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Take regular breaks whilst using screens.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wear sunglasses that offer adequate protection against UV rays.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ensure there is good lighting whilst reading and working.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use ophthalmic lenses tailored to your visual needs and prescription.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seek professional advice whenever you notice any changes in your vision.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These measures are no substitute for specialist care, but they do help to ensure greater attention is paid to eye health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Looking after your eyesight also means thinking about the future<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eye health influences the way we work, learn and go about our daily lives. That is why it deserves attention at every stage of life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IOC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, we place great importance on prevention and on ensuring that each person receives appropriate eye care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During this month dedicated to raising awareness of eye health, we invite you to give your eyesight the attention it deserves.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A nossa vis\u00e3o acompanha-nos em praticamente todos os momentos do dia. No entanto, nem sempre lhe damos a aten\u00e7\u00e3o que merece, sobretudo quando n\u00e3o sentimos qualquer dificuldade em ver. O que muitas pessoas desconhecem \u00e9 que algumas doen\u00e7as oculares podem desenvolver-se silenciosamente, sem provocar sintomas evidentes nas fases iniciais. \u00c9 precisamente por isso que os [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":840,"featured_media":6004823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6004822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sem-categoria"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6004822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/840"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6004822"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6004822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6004827,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6004822\/revisions\/6004827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6004823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6004822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6004822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6004822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}