Why ohhh why are comprehensive evaluations important…
Why Are Eye Exams Important was asked…
Ok, I will make it my best attemtp to convince you why you should keep your most imporatnt sense, your vision.
During a comprehensive eye exam, I will not only determine your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but will also check your eyes for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together as a team and evaluate your eyes as an indicator of your overall health.
Eye examinations are an important part of health maintenance for everyone. You really do not need to ahve your eyes tested to keep the prescriptions current because during the adult years, the prescription changes very little. The important thing is to check for early signs of eye disease.
In children, eye exams can play an important role in normal development of the eye. Since vision is closely linked to the learning process and 90% of learning is visual, children who have trouble seeing or interpreting what they see will often have trouble with their schoolwork. Many times, children will not complain of vision problems simply because they don’t know what “normal” vision looks like. I myself failed first grade because I could not see! I have often seen patinets that perform poorly at school and exhibits reading or learning problems and have been categorized as ADD and just like me, all they needed was a pair of glasses.
In addition to evaluating whether you have nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, I will check your eyes for eye diseases and other problems that could lead to vision loss. Here are some examples of the conditions that your I, your eye doctor will be looking for:
- Amblyopia: This occurs when the eyes are misaligned or when one eye has a much different prescription than the other. The brain will “shut off” the image from the turned or blurry eye. If left untreated, amblyopia can stunt the visual development of the affected eye, resulting in permanent vision impairment.
- Strabismus: Strabismus is defined as crossed or turned eyes. I will check your eyes’ alignment to be sure that they are working together.
- Eye Diseases: I check for many eye diseases, from simple things like dry eye (www.DryEyesClinic.com) to more complex ones such as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. Most have no obvious symptoms in their early stages. I will check the health of your eyes inside and out for signs of early problems. In most cases, early detection and treatment of eye diseases can help reduce your risk for permanent vision loss.
- Other Diseases: I can detect early signs of some systemic conditions and diseases by looking at your eye’s blood vessels, retina and so forth. They may be able to tell you if you are developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other problems. No it is not iridology, as many of you have noted in the office, it is science!
For example, diabetes can cause small blood vessel leaks or bleeding in the eye, as well as swelling of the macula (the most sensitive part of the retina), which can lead to vision loss. It’s estimated that one-third of Americans who have diabetes don’t know it; we can detect the disease before your primary care physician does, especially if you’re overdue for a physical.
A comprehensive examination is performed by a licensed eye doctor and will involve careful testing of all aspects of your eyes and vision. Based upon the results of your exam, we will then recommend a treatment plan for your individual needs. Remember, only a licensed eye doctor can provide a comprehensive eye exam. Family physicians and pediatricians are knowledgeable on many eye disorders but are not fully equipped or trained to do this.
No matter who you are, regular eye exams are important for seeing more clearly, learning more easily and preserving your vision for life.
For more information call me! Ask me questions!