The Importance of an Annual Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye exam can be confused with a vision screening – which is done to determine if your vision meets an acceptable threshold, for example, to see the board at school or to safely drive. This screening may be done at regular checkups by the family medicine doctor, school nurses, or during a visit to renew our license at the DMV. What is important to know is that these screenings are NOT comprehensive eye exams. They do not give any information on the health of your eyes. Good vision is not an indication of healthy eyes. There can be conditions that have no symptoms that can irreversibly affect your eye health. So if you think you don’t need to get an eye exam because you feel like you don’t have an issue seeing or need glasses, a comprehensive eye exam is an investment in your eye health. The best way to think about a comprehensive eye exam is that it is like an annual physical for your eyes –it focuses on the function of your eyes and if the health of them is affected by other things going on in the body.

This exam can help the doctor identify early signs of health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even cancers. Majority of vision issues do not present obvious signs or symptoms, the only way to know if everything is fine is by getting checked by your optometrist. During your comprehensive eye exam the doctor will go over a variety of things that include asking about your health, family medical history, any systemic and ocular medications that you are currently taking, any vision symptoms, and outside factors that may be affecting your vision.

• In addition to taking your history, the exam includes various tests. Preliminary tests are helpful in gaining insight into your visual function. These tests evaluate your depth perception, eye muscle movements, peripheral and side vision, color vision, and how your pupils respond to light.
• Your eye pressure is also measured during your visit either with a puff of air or with a probe that briefly touches your eye. This is crucial to do because it can be helpful in detecting eye conditions like glaucoma and corneal disease.
• A retinal image is recommended to be taken because it takes an image of the retina and can help diagnose retinal conditions without having to be dilated.
• Visual acuity is tested by using a reading chart, this evaluates how clearly each eye can see.
• The doctor looks at a magnified view of the eye, in order to see different structures at the front and inside of the eye as well as check the eyelids and surrounding skin.

It is recommended that each person sees their optometrist every year for a comprehensive eye exam. Those who have a family history or have diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, or cancer are greatly encouraged to not forget about their annual comprehensive eye exam. Pediatric patients are also strongly suggested in being seen annually because it is always best to treat eye conditions at an early age. Kids often won’t know if they have an issue seeing, and vision problems in kids can lead to problems in school or may put them at risk for developing eye conditions in the future. A comprehensive eye exam can help ensure that you have appropriate clear vision and great eye health. Don’t wait until you start struggling to see or experience discomfort, schedule your exam today and give your eyes the vital attention they need.