As summer draws to a close, many of us start thinking about preparing for autumn.
We check the heating, dig out warmer clothes and perhaps start preparing the garden for colder weather.
But there's another check worth putting on your autumn list: your eyesight.
Having an eye examination before the darker months arrive can be particularly worthwhile, and it isn't simply about discovering whether you need new glasses.
The darker evenings are coming
During autumn, daylight hours rapidly shorten. That means more driving, walking and everyday activities taking place in lower light.
You might have perfectly adequate vision on a bright summer afternoon but discover that reading road signs or judging distances becomes noticeably more difficult after dusk.
Problems such as glare from headlights can also become more apparent when you're driving in darkness or wet weather. Or if you are walking glare from headlights causes you problems.
If you've noticed that night driving isn't as comfortable as it once was, don't simply put it down to getting older. Mention it during your eye examination.
An eye test can reveal more than poor eyesight
A comprehensive eye examination isn't simply about deciding whether you need glasses.
An optometrist examines the health of your eyes and can sometimes identify signs of conditions including cataracts and glaucoma. Eye examinations can also reveal changes that warrant further medical investigation.
That's particularly important because some eye diseases can develop without obvious symptoms during their earlier stages.
Has your prescription changed?
Eyesight can change gradually, which means we don't always notice it happening.
You may compensate by holding books further away, increasing the text size on your phone, sitting closer to the television or avoiding driving after dark.
A new prescription could make an enormous difference to everyday comfort.
And if your glasses are scratched, damaged or several years old, this is a good opportunity to have them checked too.
Think about screen use
Many of us now spend hours looking at computers, tablets and smartphones, particularly people working from home. Including bloggers!
Screens don't necessarily damage healthy eyes simply through normal use, but prolonged close work can contribute to tired, uncomfortable or dry eyes.
Remember the 20-20-20 rule: roughly every 20 minutes, look at something around 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Regular blinking and sensible breaks can help too.
Children need good vision for school
September is also an excellent time to think about children's eyesight.
A child may not realise that their vision is poorer than everybody else's because, to them, that's simply what the world looks like.
Difficulty reading a classroom board, headaches, eye strain, sitting very close to screens or struggling with schoolwork can sometimes be associated with an eyesight problem.
Regular eye examinations can therefore be an important part of children's health care.
Don't wait for your routine appointment if something is wrong
Routine eye examinations are important, but some symptoms shouldn't wait.
Seek urgent professional advice if you experience a sudden loss or significant change in vision, new flashes or a sudden increase in floaters, a dark curtain or shadow across your vision, severe eye pain, or a painful red eye accompanied by changes in vision.
Depending on the circumstances, contact an optometrist, NHS 111 or an appropriate urgent eye-care service. Serious or sudden symptoms may require emergency treatment.
Put an eye test on your autumn checklist
We routinely arrange MOTs for our cars and have boilers serviced before winter, yet it's surprisingly easy to neglect something as important as our eyesight.
So, before the clocks change and those long autumn evenings arrive, consider booking an eye examination.
Even if the result is simply "Everything looks fine, see you next time", that's reassuring news worth having.
And if something has changed, finding out now could make the darker months ahead considerably clearer.
That’s Health note: Eye examination frequency depends on your age, health, family history and individual risk factors. Follow the interval recommended by your optometrist, and seek professional advice sooner if you notice changes in your eyesight or eye health.
