We are all born with different types of vision. Some of us are nearsighted, some farsighted, and
some of us have astigmatism. When you see just fine, you may not think a comprehensive
vision exam is necessary. But before making such a hasty decision I hope you will keep reading
to learn more about why an eye exam is still very important.
As a primary care optometrist, here are my top 5 reasons why everyone should get there annual
comprehensive eye examination:
1. There are eye diseases and problems that do not cause blurry vision: Most notable is
diabetes. Diabetes can cause retinopathy, which is a problem with the retina of the eye
that can eventually lead to blindness. Mild to moderate diabetic retinopathy often does
not cause any blurry vision. It is important to note that the blurred vision from diabetic
retinopathy is completely different from the glasses prescription. In other words,
someone who does not need glasses at all can still be affected by diabetic retinopathy.
Similarly, an individual with vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy cannot be prescribed
glasses to help them see better. The sad thing is that if people with diabetes wait until
their vision is blurry due to retinopathy, the damage can be irreversible. So, it is best to
come for your annual examination to help prevent permanent vision loss. Sometimes
optometrists are the health care provider who first informs the patient that they may have
diabetes and refer for diagnostic testing. Our caring optometrists at Desert Family Eye
Care are pleased to offer dilation, retinal photography and ocular coherence tomography
to provide extra thorough diagnostic and therapeutic examination of your eyes.
2. How can you know if your baby’s vision is clear? If your baby is developing normally,
yes, this is a good indication that your baby’s vision is also developing properly.
However, this is not always the case. Amblyopia is a problem with vision development
that is often only detected by a comprehensive eye examination. An optometrist will
perform tests differently on your baby to get the necessary information and determine
the level of your baby’s vision without the patient (your baby) needing to respond to,
“Which is better: 1 or 2?” Retinoscopy is the most common way optometrists obtain this
information. It is recommended that your baby’s first comprehensive eye exam be
between 6-12 months of age. At Desert Family Eye Care, we are happy to see all ages,
including infants and children. We are InfantSEE providers. https://infantsee.org/.
3. We want you to see clear and comfortable. There are many people who see clear, but
deal with eye strain. Especially in a world now full of display screens of all sizes, eye
discomfort is becoming much more common. Optometrists can determine if glasses or
contact lenses may alleviate your eye strain. Computer or activity-specific glasses
prescriptions, 20/20/20 rule, non-glare lens enhancements, and sometimes even blue
light protective lens enhancements are common solutions to eye strain.
4. What kind of vision did your grandma and grandpa have? Many eye conditions are
hereditary. So, even with clear vision today, if your grandma had macular degeneration,
you will benefit from an annual comprehensive eye examination to detect any signs of
macular degeneration in your eyes. As macular degeneration is another eye disease
that can lead to blindness, early diagnosis promotes better treatment. Annual retina
photographs provide a very thorough way of monitoring for macular degeneration.
5. What is the best way to maintain healthy eyes and vision throughout your whole life? At
your annual comprehensive eye examination, you have the perfect opportunity to to ask
questions about your vision and eye health and discuss lifestyle habits that will promote
optimal eye health. At Desert Family Eye Care, we cultivate a professional environment
where there is sufficient time in your examination to answer your questions and discuss
prevention. With the variety of advanced technology instrumentation available,detailed
illustrations of each person’s eye condition are possible.
So, don’t put your eye exam off any longer. Please call or visit our webpage to schedule an
appointment today. At Desert Family Eye Care we look forward to helping you See Well, Feel
Well, and Live Well.