Is it necessary to get an eye exam every year?

How often do you go for an eye exam? Most of us assume that the screening that is done by volunteers at school and in regular hospitals is sufficient to confirm that their eyes are healthy. Eye specialists disagree with this and say that we should all go for eye exams every year or one in two years.

The rate at which the visits should be depends on your age, the condition of your eyes as well as your medical history. Eye exams can detect eye problems at an early stage as you update your prescription to prevent further complications. It prevents you from eye-related diseases.

Eye specialist report that numerous eye conditions start developing gradually and don't show visible symptoms until they advance. If they are detected early enough, it could prevent harm as you get various treatment options to reverse them.

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Visiting the Eye care specialist

A visit to an eye care specialist should not be scary. You only need to prepare beforehand as you equip yourself with the right information right form your family's eye history. An eye doctor conducts routine questions because there are factors that can affect vision problems.

They try to understand your lifestyle to point such as the excess use of the computer to determine possible causes of vision problems. There are also certain family medical conditions that can lead to your eye problems.

What should you know before stepping into an exam room?

Apart from having the basics such as insurance information and payments at hand, you should prepare for the following before an eye exam.

The type of eye problem

Eye challenges are diverse. Some people have blurry visions from a distance while others experience problems with side vision. It may be uncomfortable to read under light or even painful when you are outside. You should be able to describe the situation you are experiencing to your eye specialist.

Your history as well as that of your family

Some of the eye problems are passed down to children by the parents. That is why even the young need regular eye exams. You should be able to tell the professional if you have a history of eye problems. Some conditions such as a past injury could affect your sight. This is useful information for determining the factors causing your condition.

Tell your doctor in case of a prescription for spectacles or contact lenses. You can explain how you feel about using them. Let your doctor know if they are still helping you or if they have become weak. Such details will help you get better help from an eye exam room.

Your birth details

Find out from your parents information regarding your birth. Eye professional report that premature birth could lead to vision problems. Details about your overall health are also important. If you have diseases such as hypertension or heart complications, you should not leave this information out. Being overweight is also a factor that can affect your vision.

Medication

The type of drugs you may be using can interfere with the treatment options prescribed. That is why you should tell the specialist if you are using other medicines. If you are allergic to some component in medication, inform the doctor so that they can find alternatives to prescribe. Food allergies are also significant to mention.

Eye problems in the family

We mentioned that some of them are genetic. That is why you should find out if other family members have diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts. Feel free to ask your parents if you don't know such details before the eye exams so that you don't give vague answers and make it easy for the doctor to treat you.

Other diseases running in the family such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart conditions can lead to blood disorders in other family members.

What are some of the tests you may encounter in an eye exam?

Different tests are ordered for people in the eye exam depending on your age or eye condition. Apart from the standard chart of reading letters that you may have seen in eye screening, you may also go through tests like:

Autorefractor

These are machines used to evaluate which lens you need for your eyes.

Eye dilation

An eye specialist uses special drops to dilate your pupils so that they can remain open as they examine the various parts.

Optomap

This is a technology that is used to examine your pupils without dilating them with Can-C eye drops.

Bottom line

Most of us have not been taking eye exams seriously. Screening is not enough to rule out vision problems. Find a reputable eye clinic and take the necessary tests and exams to deal with eye problems early.