Why Eye Exams Are Important?

Why Eye Exams Are Important?

It all starts with getting a comprehensive eye exam from your local optometrist. These brief office visits run your vision through a series of tests to determine the health of your eyes, the clarity of your vision, and the precise number of lenses you may need. Most doctors recommend   yearly eye exams because, in addition to temporary complications such as ocular migraines, adults typically see gradual year-to-year changes in vision. However, children and teens can go through rapid changes as they grow, which means it pays to have an occasional   interim eye exam to update their glasses

During a standard comprehensive eye exam, your doctor (or a certified technician) will ask several questions about your overall health,   including smoking status, medical history, weight, information from previous eye exams, and more. Since many medicines can have vision-altering side effects, you will also need to list all medicines you are currently taking and why.

As part of the exam, the ophthalmologist will examine the inside of your eye with a slit lamp or an ophthalmoscope to analyze your retina   (the back of the eye) for any signs of problems. Specific tests may be ordered if your optometrist finds any of this concern. You will also   measure intraocular pressure (IOP) with an insufflation, tonometer, or Goldmann machine.

At some point during the comprehensive exam, your vision will be tested with a phoropter device -- a device that looks like binoculars. This is the basis for an eye exam and is able to gauge the best prescription for eyeglasses for your eyes.   Ideally, you want to read as small letters as possible, all the way down to 20/20. Excluding the effects of specific ocular complications and   aging in general, distance vision can be corrected to 20/20 (or close) for almost everyone.