Most people experience an eye screening as their first introduction to eye care, whether during school or at the DMV. An eye screening is basically a test to determine if you can see 20/20. While an eye screening is a great way to determine a need for a prescription, it is not in any way determining the health of your eyes. Even if you can pass an eye screening and see 20/20, you should still have an annual eye exam to check the health of your eyes.
At iCare Family Vision, we do more than just determine your glasses and contacts prescription during an eye exam. By providing early detection of health issues, your eye doctor is often the first line of defense against chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms, and you may be completely unaware of them.
Only a small percentage of your time during an eye exam is actually spent determining your prescription. The majority of the testing time in an eye exam is devoted to tests such as visual field, tonometry, retinal evaluation, slit lamp, etc.
These tests are just a few of the ways that your eye doctor can check your overall health and well being:
- Eye diseases: glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, etc.
- Refractive error: farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia
- Other diseases: high blood pressure, high cholesterol
- Amblyopia, strabismus, and focusing problems
Treatment plans following your eye exam can include a prescription for glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors, vision therapy, medical treatment for eye disease and in some cases your eye doctor may also recommend that you take vitamins or supplements to maintain good eye health or to help alleviate specific problems like dry eyes.
In the end, regular eye exams are important for seeing more clearly, early detection of health issues, and preserving your vision for life.
Schedule your annual eye exam today at iCare Family Vision.