Eye exams can seem unnecessary, especially if you are healthy and have no symptoms. However, your eye problems do not only arise from poor eye health, like watching a lot of television, but also from chronic conditions like diabetes. You can expect your eye exam in Jacksonville to help diagnose current eye issues and help prevent future problems with preventive tips like eating a healthy diet and wearing protective eyewear.
Eye exams address your eye health and activities that contribute to poor vision health, which can lead to vision loss if not properly addressed. Your eye appointment can catch eye diseases, including macular degeneration, cataracts, and corneal damage.
What does the exam involve?
During your eye exam, your doctor will address various aspects, including your personal medical history, family medical history, current medications, and tests for eye problems, and determine a prescription for eyewear depending on your condition and needs. The tests include a visual acuity test, pupil response test, phoropter test, peripheral vision test, and ocular motility test for eye movement and alignment.
Others tests include the retina and optic nerve exam to check for diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration. Your specialist can also conduct an intraocular eye pressure exam to check for glaucoma.
Benefits of eye exams
While you can begin regular eye screenings at 40, your specialist might recommend earlier eye exams, especially if you have an underlying condition like diabetes or high blood pressure. The following are the benefits of eye exams.
Diagnose eye conditions
One of the primary benefits of eye exams is to diagnose eye problems and conditions. The eye exam is significant even when you are healthy and have no vision problems. However, glaucoma is a symptomless eye problem that can lead to vision loss if not detected early and treated. The eye exam can detect any changes in your eye’s blood vessels before you experience symptoms.
Prevent eye problems
Regular overall health screenings and eye exams can catch a potential eye problem. Your specialist can evaluate your medical history and predict your future health based on your lifestyle. Following regular observations and evaluations, your specialist can offer preventive tips to delay and prevent the onset of eye problems. For example, your doctor can check your blood sugar levels and insulin resistance to check your susceptibility to diabetes, which can affect your vision if left untreated.
How often should you have eye exams?
After your first comprehensive eye exam, your specialist will set up a frequency timeline depending on your results from the exam. If you have an underlying disease like diabetes, you must visit your eye doctor for eye exams more often than someone healthy.
If you are over 40 or are at risk of vision problems, visit Wolchok Eye Associates, PA, for an examination. The highly qualified team at the center will evaluate your medical history, symptoms, and eye-specific history before conducting a highly personalized eye exam. Call or reach out to the center to get tested and improve your vision health.
