Oftentimes we can be so caught up with body positivity and mental health that we can take things like our vision for granted. If you're like me, then you already have terrible eyesight, and scheduling your yearly eye exam is just as normal as your biannual dental cleanings. However, people with the blessing of 20/20 vision might not be so accustomed to going to the optometrist — regardless of your current vision you definitely should start making it a habit.

If you aren't having any current issues with your vision and are between the ages of 20 and 39, the Atlantic Eye Institute recommends you have an eye exam every two to three years. Some groups of people, including diabetics, those with high blood pressure and those with a family history of eye disease should get tested more frequently. Patients above the age of 40 should get an eye exam more frequently as well since age tends to affect many people's eyesight.

But first, you should know the difference between an eye exam and a vision screening.

Vision screenings, while necessary, only identify very obvious visual impairment. This is the screening where the school hauled you all into the nurse's office and made you cover one eye, read some letters then do the same thing with your other eye. A comprehensive eye exam performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is more in-depth and can help spot signs of more serious illnesses such as eye cancer or glaucoma.

The saying goes that eyes are the windows to the soul, but they may also be the windows into the rest of our body's health. Eye exams can catch eye diseases of course, but they can also detect signs of numerous other health issues. Some of these include thyroid issues, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, and tumors. So even if you don't need to worry about getting glasses this year, it is still important to go to the optometrist before you have issues – it could literally save your life.

Although National Eye Exam Month is coming to a close, there is still plenty of time left in the year for you to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

It is worth mentioning that many doctor's offices are still closed due to the threat of COVID-19, so another great resource if you're in need of more contact lenses but can't see your optometrist is the at-home vision exam from 1-800-CONTACTS which functions via webcam. Stay safe, healthy, and get your annual eye exam!