People who enjoy excellent vision often wonder whether they really need to schedule an eye exam. But an eye exam is just as much about checking the healthiness of your eyes as it is evaluating how well you can see.
Eye disease is not always accompanied by recognizable symptoms. Waiting for them to appear can put your vision at risk, which is why a regular eye exam is important. It is also an indicator of your systemic health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure. BE EYEWISE- schedule regular eye exam!! >80% of all visual impairment is treatable, preventable or curable, so early diagnosis and care are critical.
A comprehensive adult eye examination may include, but is not limited to the following tests (an individual patient’s presenting signs and symptoms, along with the professional judgment of the Our Doctors, may significantly influence the testing done).
OUR COMPREHENSIVE EYE CHECK UP INCLUDES FOLLOWING TEST
- Additional testing may be needed based on the results of the previous tests to confirm or rule out possible problems, to clarify uncertain findings, or to provide a more in depth assessment. These can include, but are not limited to tests such as retinal photography, gonioscopy, corneal pachymetry, optic nerve or macular scans (OCT), ultrasound, contrast sensitivity, automated visual field testing.
- All of the test results are used in the final analysis to determine the appropriate prescription lenses to treat refractive and visual problems, to develop a program of eye training exercises, or to recommend medical or surgical treatment.
- Recommendations for future eye care can be made based on the history of eye health and the results of the examination.
Frequency for an eye exam
The frequency of ocular examinations should be based on the presence of visual abnormalities and the probability of visual abnormalities developing. Individuals who have ocular symptoms require prompt examinations. Individuals who do not have symptoms but who are at high risk of developing ocular abnormalities related to systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension or who have a family history of eye disease, require periodic comprehensive eye examinations to prevent or minimize visual loss. The frequency of examinations depends on an individual’s age, specific condition, and the likelihood of finding abnormalities on examination. Adults who have no symptoms, and who are at low risk, should receive an initial comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist and follow a schedule of periodic assessment designed to detect ocular disease.
| Infants and Toddlers (Birth to 24 months) | First eye examination between the ages of 6 and 9 months |
| Preschool Children (2 to 5 years) | Between the ages of 2 and 5 years |
| School Age Children (6 to 19 years) | Annually, Eye glasses should be checked every six months |
| Adults (20 to 39 years) | Every year, Eye Glasses should be checked every six months. |
| Adults (40 to 64 years) | Every 2 years |
| Adults (65 years or older) | Annually |
IMPORTANCE OF COMPREHENSIVE EYE CHECK UP
Review three reasons why exams are important.
1. Eye diseases
According to the National Eye Institute, many peoples have been diagnosed with these vision issues:
7 million have glaucoma
7 million have diabetic retinopathy
1 million have age-related macular degeneration
24 million have cataracts
Some diseases do not give early warning signs. By the time people notice a difference in their vision, the disease may be in an advanced stage. However, your eye doctor can detect signs of these diseases during a comprehensive exam
2. Vision Problems
Changes in your eyes can affect your sight:
Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism – These refractive errors can be corrected with prescription eyeglasses, contacts or laser surgery.
Amblyopia – Looking in a mirror, your eyes may look normal, but during a vision exam the doctor may detect amblyopia, a condition where one or both eyes are misaligned or one eye needs higher correction than the other.
Focusing – Children and adults who struggle to focus their eyes can experience problems seeing and reading.
Teaming – For proper vision, both eyes must work together. If they don’t, people may experience headache and eyestrain, and struggle to read correctly.
Strabismus – Described as crossed or turned eyes, strabismus can affect depth perception. If not corrected, amblyopia may develop.
3. Systemic diseases
In addition to looking for eye diseases, the eye doctor may detect early signs of other medical problems that require attention. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, some cancers and high cholesterol.