IMPORTANCE OF ROUTINE WELLNESS EYE EXAMS
It is easy to forget to get your routine wellness eye exam. If you can see, you may think there is nothing wrong with your eyes. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are many eye problems that you may not notice right away. However, these eye problems may already be causing you some issues.
Even people who wear contacts or glasses may fail to have their eyes properly checked. Getting a comprehensive eye exam from your eye doctor can help you detect eye problems early on. This will give you the best chance to keep your vision.
What An Eye Exam Entails
Adults and older teens should have an eye exam if they haven’t had one in a few years. The eye exam is not just about checking the vision, however. The eye doctor will also perform a refraction and ask about the patient’s family and personal medical history.
These questions will be about any issues you have noticed about your vision, of course. However, there will also be questions about other health issues. These include ones about high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or other potential health problems.
During the appointment, your eye doctor will make suggestions on how often to have eye exams in the future. For example, if you have diabetes, you will need to have a dilated eye exam each year. People who have diabetes can slow any damage that the disease causes if it is caught early. However, it cannot be reversed.
If you wear contact lenses, you should have an eye exam each year. This can detect changes that may affect your health or how well the contact lenses fit. You may also find that the prescription changes each year.
Eye doctors will also look at the physical appearance of your eye. This can include looking at a high refractive error or a thinning of your retina. This can increase your risk of having a detached retina or retinal tears.
If there are changes to your pigment, you may be at a risk for glaucoma. This condition causes the optic nerve to become damaged from extra pressure inside of your eye.
Other Eye Problems
There are some other problems that the eye doctor will look for as well. For example, choroidal melanoma is a type of cancer that a dilated eye exam can detect. Sometimes, a tumor in the brain or eye does not have symptoms. Other times, the only symptoms may be blurry vision.
When To Make An Appointment
If you notice any changes in your eyes, you should make appointments more frequently. For example, if you notice sudden flashes or an increase in floaters, it may be time to see the eye doctor. If your vision is missing or becomes distorted, you should also make an appointment. This can be a sign of a detached retina. This is considered an emergency.
To make your eye appointment today, contact Longview Eye Associates in Longview, Texas.