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Regular eye exams should be part of everyone's health care regime, especially those that suffer from chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, any changes in the appearance of your eyes or vision between regularly scheduled visits with your eye specialist should be checked. Early detection and treatment can be the key to preventing loss of sight.

Examples of changes that should be referred to an eye specialist include:

• Unusual trouble adjusting to dark rooms
• Difficulty focusing on close or distant objects
• Unusual sensitivity to light or glare
• Change in the color of the iris
• Red-rimmed, encrusted or swollen lids
• Recurrent pain in or around the eyes
• Double vision
• Dark spot at the center of your vision
• Lines and straight edges appear wavy or distorted
• Excess tearing or "watery eyes"
• Dry eyes with itching or burning
• Seeing spots, ghost-like images

The following symptoms are indications of serious medical problems and need immediate attention:

• Sudden loss of vision in one eye
• Sudden hazy or blurred vision
• Flashes of light or black spots in the field of vision
• Halos or rainbows around lights
• Curtain-like blotting out of vision
• Loss of peripheral (side) vision