What is an Eye Health Exam?

Eye safety involves more than simply wearing safety glasses. It requires regular eye health examinations by a Doctor of Optometry annually. But you might say, “Well, I can see fine, so why do I need an eye health exam?”

Eye exams cover much more than just your ability to focus.   The tests performed by an Optometrist provide a window to the overall health of your eyes and body, and early detection of serious issues can make the difference between vision and blindness as conditions progress.

An eye health exam is a quick, pain-free process that is completely non-invasive. It typically covers the following types of tests (or more, depending on your needs):

1. A review of your case history and overall health.
2. External and internal eye health
3. Measurements of eye movements and coordination, sharpness of vision and peripheral vision.
4. Evaluation of ability to adjust focus, and perceive colour and depth
5. Recommendations and treatment options for your specific situation.

COMMON EYE CONDITIONS

Amblyopia: weak vision or vision loss in one eye as a result of an uncorrected prescription during the early stages of development. If detected and treated before age six, it will often resolve completely.

Presbyopia: a natural effect of aging in which the ability to focus on close objects decreases over time. Presbyopia can cause headaches, blurred vision, and the need for more light or sore eyes.

Cataracts: distorted or cloudy vision caused by the lens inside the eye losing its transparency over time. Cataracts can require changes to your glasses or surgical removal.

Diabetic Retinopathy: a weakening or swelling of the tiny blood vessels in the retina of your eye, blood leakage, which may also lead to the growth of new blood vessels as well as other changes. If left untreated, blindness can result.

Macular Degeneration: a disease that results in degenerative changes to your central vision, and is a leading cause of vision loss among older adults.

Glaucoma: a “silent thief of sight” that often has no symptoms until significant damage has occurred. Glaucoma is caused by elevated pressure within the eye, and can lead to serious vision loss if not detected and treated at an early stage.

As you can well see (and we hope you also see well), regular eye examinations are important to protect both the safety of your eyes and body. CLICK HERE to find an Optometrist near you.