Vision is one of our most important senses, yet many people take the gift of sight for granted by putting off routine eye exams. Visiting an eye doctor regularly is crucial for maintaining clear vision and detecting subtle changes in eye health before they impair sight.
Comprehensive eye exams allow specialists to fully evaluate both vision function and screen for common eye conditions, often lacking obvious symptoms in the initial stages. Keep reading to learn more about routine eye exams, including what tests are performed during this important visit!
What Are Routine Eye Exams?
Routine eye exams are regular check-ups with an eye doctor to evaluate your vision and the health of your eyes. They are recommended for most people every one to two years, or more frequently, depending on risk factors and age.
It is very important to schedule and attend these visits to protect your vision and the health of your eyes. However, they are especially important for any person who wears glasses or who has an eye condition.
Routine eye exams allow early detection and monitoring of common vision problems and eye conditions. Your eye doctor at Rosenthal Eye Surgery will determine how often you need to have your eyes checked.
What Happens During a Routine Eye Exam?
During a routine eye exam, your eye doctor will perform several tests to thoroughly assess your eyes and vision. Common tests include:
Vision Testing
This tests your ability to see details at various distances. You’ll read an eye chart and identify letters, starting with larger ones and decreasing in size.
Vision testing determines if you have 20/20 vision or need a prescription for glasses or contacts.
Refraction
A refraction measures your prescription for glasses or contacts. It involves looking through various lenses while indicating which set allows the clearest near and far vision.
The refraction results in your prescription.
Visual Fields
Your eye doctor or technician will test your ability to detect objects to the side when looking forward. Loss of peripheral vision can signal certain eye problems.
Eye Pressure
Tonometry, or eye pressure testing, measures the fluid pressure inside your eyes. High pressure is linked to glaucoma risk and may require medication to prevent optic nerve damage leading to blindness.
Dilated Retinal Exam
Eye drops enlarge, or dilate, the pupil so your eye doctor can examine the back of your eye, specifically the retina and optic nerve. This magnified view screens for retinal holes, changes, signs of disease, and other things.
How Do I Know If I Need a Routine Eye Exam?
You don’t need to have issues with your eyes or to benefit from regular eye exams. Many common eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, or diabetic eye disease often have no warning signs in their early stages.
By the time symptoms appear, vision loss may be irreversible. Routine comprehensive eye exams allow detection of such sneaky issues before they impair sight. They also establish baselines for monitoring eye health over time.
As you age, more frequent exams often become advisable for noticing subtle changes. Those with diabetes or risk factors for certain eye diseases also require increased vigilance through more frequent inspections.
Discuss your specific situation with your eye doctor at Rosenthal Eye Surgery to determine an optimal personal timeline for routine eye checks based on health history and age. However, for most adults, yearly or biannual exams provide an invaluable understanding of current vision function and screening for emerging eye problems.
Being proactive really pays off when it comes to maintaining excellent sight! By making eye exams a regular priority, you take the most fundamental steps for sustaining clear vision and long-term ocular wellness.
Is it time for you to have your eyes checked? Schedule an appointment at Rosenthal Eye Surgery in Great Neck, NY, today!
