Why Regular Visits to Your Eye Doctor Are Crucial to Your Overall Health

Although many people think they only need an eye exam when they have eyesight problems, regular appointments with your eye doctor are a vital part of caring for your overall health and avoiding future problems.

Adults should see an eye doctor at least every two years and then at least once a year after age 60. You may need to see them more often if you have specific issues or a family history of eye problems.

You may need more regular checks if you have other medical problems that can affect eyesight such as high blood pressure or you take medications that might affect your eyesight.In addition, if you have a job or hobby that can increase your risk of eyesight problems, more regular appointments may be recommended.

When you go for an eye appointment, make sure you explain clearly to your eye doctor any problems you are having with your vision. You should also be ready to discuss any other symptoms.

Tell them about any history of eye problems in your family and, when visiting a new eye doctor, make sure to bring them fully up to date with your own history.

The actual eye exam may take between 30 minutes and one hour to check out your vision and the general health of your eyes. It includes many different tests that help identify issues with your visual or general health.

For example, to test muscle strength and control, the doctor will ask you to track the movement of a target in various directions while they observe your eye movements.They will also check for how well your eyes work together by covering and uncovering each eye while you stare at a fixed object.

The most familiar part of the exam is where they test your vision by having you read down an eye chart where the letters get smaller in each line. You will read the letters with each eye covered in turn until you can't read them any longer.

The doctor may get an approximate idea of the lens prescription you need by shining a light in your eyes and measuring the reaction as they try various lenses. This can also be done with an automated device.

They may then use these results to help work out your exact prescription or by asking you to identify which one is best while alternating various lenses.

Among the other tests are using a "puff of air" to indicate the pressure in the eye.

The doctor will also examine the outside of your eye and will use various lights and instruments to look inside. This helps to identify signs of any issues.

In addition to the eyesight tests, your doctor will be looking for signs of serious problems such as glaucoma or cataracts. They can also spot signs of specific health problems such as diabetes.

Eye examinations include checking many different aspects of your visual and general health and that’s why it’s so important to have them regularly.

Contact your Optometrist Charlottesville VA quickly and they will help you take actions to make improvements.