Eyes
Information for eye patients and their families
What this board is about
This is a place to talk about eye discomfort (redness, itching, a feeling of something in the eye, dryness), changes in vision, age-related eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration, and looking after children's eyesight.
Get to an eye clinic quickly in these cases
- Part of your field of vision is suddenly blocked, or it looks as if a curtain has come down (possible retinal detachment — an emergency)
- Floaters (small shapes drifting in your vision) suddenly increase a lot, together with flashes of light
- Severe pain in one eye + headache + nausea (possible acute glaucoma — an emergency)
- A chemical gets into the eye (rinse immediately under running water for 10 minutes or more and call 119)
If it is none of these, you can usually start at your local eye clinic.
Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05
Basic eye care
- From the age of 40, have your eye pressure and the back of your eye checked once every 1~2 years even without symptoms (early screening for glaucoma and macular degeneration)
- If you have diabetes, a regular examination of the back of the eye is essential to check for diabetic retinopathy
- Keep to the wearing time for contact lenses, and do not sleep in them
- Check whether artificial tears contain a preservative; if you use them several times a day, preservative-free products are better
Source: 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 · as of 2026-08-05
Frequently asked questions
From what age should a child's eyesight be tested?
Eyesight is fully developed by about the age of 7~8, so treatment works best when a problem is found before then. A first eye examination at about the age of 3~4 is recommended, and do not skip the vision items in the infant and child health check-ups. If a child watches TV very close up or tilts their head to look, it is better to get tested sooner.
Sources for this page
· 질병관리청 국가건강정보포털 (as of 2026-08-05)Last checked: 2026년 8월 5일
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