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When you’re a child, it’s easy to get an eye exam because the adult in your life, be them your parent or caretaker, makes sure that you make it to your appointment. But for those of us who no longer live under mom and dad’s roof, the importance of eye exams should not be undermined.
How Often Do I Need to Be Getting an Exam?
All of this depends on age. When you’re a child, optical guidelines suggest that a child should be have an exam once a year. Once you’re above the age 18, until the age of 60, the recommendation is that you only need an eye exam every two years. After age 61, the recommendation returns back to once a year. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it is recommended that you get an eye exam each year.
Why May You Want to Get an Eye Exam Each Year?
Although it is recommended that you only get an exam every two years as an adult between the age of 18-60, it may be wise to forgo that suggestion and get one each year. Regular eye exams can uncover problems that most people don’t know they have. Unlike other parts of your body, like your leg or arm, when there is an issue in the eye, it doesn’t always hurt like other parts of the body. Here are some things that can be discovered through an eye exam.
Nearsightedness and Farsightedness
Although they are less serious conditions such as being nearsighted and farsighted which can be detected through an eye exam. Knowing you need corrective glasses or contact lenses to help treat these problems in eyesight can be a huge help in reducing stress on the eye.
Diabetes
Most people don’t realize that Diabetes, whether it’s Type 1 or 2, can have a negative effect on eyesight. If you have Diabetes, it’s a good idea to get a regular eye exam. But if you don’t, it’s still a good idea. Why? Because many ophthalmologists have uncovered health issues such as Diabetes and hypertension, that patients don’t even realize that have.
Glaucoma
Here at OCLI, we are experts in treating Glaucoma, a painful eye disease in which the fluid is improperly draining from the eye. Because the fluid isn’t draining properly, there is a lot of intraocular pressure, which causes pain. People who suffer from Glaucoma often experience loss of vision and in some cases complete blindness. In order to make sure you’re treated with Glaucoma as soon as possible if you have it, please make sure to get regular eye exams. There is no cure for Glaucoma but there are treatment options available.
Macular Degeneration
This is when the central part of the retina, the part of the eye that filters light, deteriorates. Common symptoms of Macular Degeneration are blurry areas, or changes in color perception. Although these seem like issues that most people would want checked out by their eye doctor, many do not always realize how crucial it is for them to be examined. However, Macular Degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss, and so it’s important to get checked for this each year, particularly because it is more common the older you are.
You Are Eligible for Surgery
There are some positive things that come from eye exams. Not everything is bad news! Some people are worried about going to the eye doctor because it means that they find out they’ll need contact lenses or glasses. But what about the good news? Often times a patient can be a candidate for a surgery that can be beneficial to them, like LASIK eye surgery, and not even know. Making your annual eye appointment and asking your doctor what types of procedures and surgeries you may be eligible for, can be an exciting reason to see the doctor.
Who Should I Let Examine My Eyes?
While some people think it’s okay to allow a primary care physician to do an eye exam, we recommend that you instead see a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist, professionals who have the experience in their specific fields and an abundance of knowledge in the industry.
Have You Had Your Exam This Year?
If you haven’t had your eye exam this year, consider getting in touch to make an appointment with one of the fantastic doctors of OCLI today. Perhaps you work a job that is visually demanding and requires you to be staring at a computer screen all day. Or maybe you take medication with side effects that are affecting your eyes and you want to make sure all is well. Or perhaps, because you’re concerned of the diseases mentioned above and simply care about your eye health, you’ll call for a free consultation today. If you’re curious about more eye exam facts, feel free to browse around on our blog!
