Most of us know that we’re supposed to have our eyes examined once a year, especially growing children whose eyes are still developing. However, with our busy schedules and responsibilities, you may be tempted to delay your regular exam. This can be even more tempting if you have good vision or a prescription that doesn’t often change.
However, these regular visits can be much more important than you think. Take a closer look at what really goes on with your annual eye exam and why they matter; you might think twice about skipping your appointment next year.
Annual Exams are All About Prevention
When it comes to your health and welfare, it’s always better to avoid a problem than to be forced to treat one. This is the main idea behind your yearly eye exams.
During the exam, the doctor and technicians will examine various aspects of your eye. They not only look for vision changes but many other health indicators. Symptoms of eye disease can often be subtle, even to the point that you don’t know anything is wrong. With their training and equipment, the eye doctor can pick up on these signs and decide whether action is needed. In many cases, the advanced warning can allow both you and the doctor to take steps that can slow, reduce, or even prevent serious eye issues.
Your Eyes Might Not See Like They Used To
Our vision can change at any point in our lives. Whether you’re a child, teen, adult, or senior, you have countless external and internal factors that can change the way your eyes function. The trouble is that since we’re using our eyes constantly and these changes are so gradual, we may not notice them ourselves.
Going in for your annual exam provides an opportunity to detect subtle changes in your vision. The doctor can compare your current results with past years and note any differences. Having several years of exams to refer to also makes it easier to spot patterns, helping to predict future changes. Most importantly, if your vision has changed enough to require correction or treatment, you’ll save yourself and your eyes future difficulty by addressing it in a timely fashion.
Your Exam Reveals More Than Just Eye Health
You’ve likely heard the phrase, “the eyes are the window to the soul.” They’re also the window to your overall health.
Many conditions and diseases can present symptoms within the eye, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even certain forms of cancer. Eye doctors are trained to spot these symptoms and inform patients that they may need further testing to evaluate this issue.
For several patients, the eye exam is the first place they learn about these conditions, which leads to them getting much-needed treatment afterward.
Don’t Mistake a Vision Screening for an Eye Exam
If you’re a parent whose child has had a vision screening at school, you may be tempted to accept the results at face value. Your child passed with no problems – surely that means there’s no issue?
What you might not realize is just how limited these screenings are compared to a full exam. A vision screening checks the ability to perform very specific tasks, such as reading at a distance. What they won’t tell you is whether there are any other health concerns or even whether your child can comfortably perform visual tasks.
Children with mild or long-term vision issues may not realize there’s anything wrong if it’s always been this way for them, or they may not know how to express a problem. That’s why an optometrist or ophthalmologist needs to perform a full eye exam. They can help identify problems that no one noticed before, ensuring that any issues are addressed and promoting a better quality of life.
Do you remember the last time you had your eyes examined? If you’re looking for an ophthalmologist in El Paso, Dr. Daniel G. Blumenfeld and his team are happy to help. Please browse our site or contact our office for more information!