Our eyes give us the valuable gift of sight and indicate broader health conditions.
Yet people neglect regular eye exams.
Most people are under the impression that their eyesight is satisfactory, unaware they might require corrective lenses.
What Are Eye Exams?
An eye exam is a complete evaluation of your vision and eye health that an eye care professional performs.
Eye exams can uncover vision problems; for example, you may see nearby objects but find farther objects blurry or vice versa. These conditions may not be immediately noticeable.
But finding out whether or not you need glasses or contacts and of which power isn’t the only thing these exams clinch.
Regular eye exams can help you pinpoint likely health issues. Eyes give away early warning signs of diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. At these stages, such diseases may even be most treatable.
Thorough eye exams should become a routine part of health maintenance for everyone, even those who don’t wear glasses or contact lenses.
Types of Eye Care Professionals
There are two primary types of eye care professionals performing eye exams:
- Optometrists: These eye care providers are specialists in diagnosing and treating common vision issues. They can:
- prescribe corrective lenses
- diagnose eye conditions
- suggest treatments for vision problems
- Ophthalmologists: These doctors specialize in more advanced eye care, including surgeries. They can do all of the above but focus more on:
- treating diseases
- operating on the eyes
Both optometrists and ophthalmologists are essential in supporting eye health and early detection of eye diseases. Routine visits to these professionals can prevent problems from becoming too severe.
Detecting Eye Diseases Early
Eye diseases usually develop slowly, and symptoms may go unnoticed for a long time. Some conditions, like glaucoma, can advance seriously before any noticeable symptoms appear.
A dilated eye exam (where the optometrist will use eye drops to enlarge or dilate your pupils) gives your doctor a better view of the eye’s internal structures. They can identify the abnormalities, if any.
Detecting eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration in their early stages increases the chances of successful treatment.
Many eye conditions are more accessible to treat if detected in time. This can control permanent vision loss. That’s why it’s essential to undergo regular eye exams – even if your vision seems fine.
Eye Exams Give Insight into General Health
Optometrists and ophthalmologists use a combination of visual inspection and advanced imaging techniques to look for signs of systemic health issues.
For example, they look at:
- Retinal blood vessels: changes in these vessels may indicate diabetes or cardiovascular problems.
- Optic nerve: abnormalities in the optic nerve could point to glaucoma, brain tumors, or other severe conditions.
- Cornea: certain deposits on the cornea may have to do with high cholesterol.
Modern eye exams frequently include advanced imaging techniques. These are precise and detailed views of the eye’s internal structures, and they help doctors detect conditions that might not be visible to the naked eye.
Two standard technologies are:
- Retinal imaging: This technique can show early signs of diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Vision loss can be controlled (slowed/prevented) with early detection.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): OCT scans provide detailed retina and optic nerve images. Changes in the optic nerve or abnormal eye movements can suggest neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
More health conditions show early signs in the eyes before they are seen elsewhere in the body.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure can cause narrowing or bending of retinal blood vessels.
- Autoimmune diseases: Eye inflammation can reveal conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
- Cancer: Changes in the eyes may signal the presence of cancers, such as skin cancers on the eyelids or metastatic cancers.
- Thyroid disease: Bulging eyes or changes in eye muscle function can point to thyroid disorders.
Common Eye Diseases
Several eye conditions can result in significant vision loss if not detected early. Regular eye exams can help identify and address these issues before they cause irreversible damage:
- Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. They cause the eye’s lens to become cloudy, reducing clarity and sharpness.
- Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes and is one of the most preventable causes of blindness. Early detection and treatment can avoid vision loss in most people with diabetes.
- Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. If left untreated, it may lead to vision loss.
- Age-related macular degeneration stems from the gradual breakdown of light-sensitive tissue in the eye. It can significantly impair vision as time passes.
Detecting and Treating Refractive Errors
Refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (farsightedness with age), and astigmatism (blurred or distorted vision at any distance) can be detected during routine eye exams.
These conditions are managed and typically corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery (LASIK).
Early detection of refractive errors is important because untreated vision problems can worsen. For example, mild myopia can become more severe nearsightedness if not addressed early.
How are they detected? Most commonly through visual acuity tests, refraction assessment, and sometimes the dilated eye exam.
The vital thing to note here is that refractive errors are not diseases. They are vision problems or eye conditions. These errors result from the eye’s shape or anatomy preventing light from focusing correctly on the retina.
They are caused by factors like:
- changes in eye shape
- naturally steeper or flatter eye surface
- thicker or thinner lens than normal
- eye being too short or too long
Diagnosing Eye Allergies
Eye allergies can be frustrating and cause notable discomfort, and they can be caught during an eye exam. Common symptoms of eye allergies are redness, itching, burning, and swollen eyelids.
Seasonal allergies can worsen these symptoms, usually triggered by pollen or other environmental factors.
Early diagnosis gets you proper treatment, which can soothe this discomfort and protect your eyes.
Eye Health for Children
Children also need regular checkups; some may even argue they need it the most.
This is because children may be unable to notice or tell if they’re having difficulties reading or watching something, and it’s not just about their poor vision.
Eye exams during childhood help detect problems that could interfere with learning and development. Unfortunately, very few preschool-age children in the U.S. get eye exams, so it’s no wonder many potential issues go undiagnosed.
Conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) can cause permanent vision loss if not treated early. Other common childhood vision problems, like myopia or hyperopia, can also be detected and corrected with regular exams.
Recommended Frequency of Eye Exams
How frequent you should be with your eye exams depends on your age, health, and the presence of any risk factors.
This is a general guide you can follow:
Children:
- One exam between 6-12 months of age.
- One exam between ages 3-5.
- Annual exams from ages 6-17.
Adults:
- Ages 18-39: Every 2 years, assuming no risk factors are present.
- Ages 40-64: Every 2-4 years without risk factors.
- Ages 65 and older: Annually or every 1-2 years.
For those with higher risk factors, like people with a family history of eye disease or conditions like diabetes, more frequent exams may be needed.
Adults should also have a comprehensive eye exam at age 40. This is the age when many vision problems and eye diseases start to appear.
Signs You Should See an Eye Doctor
Even if you’re regular with your eye exams, you should be aware of certain signs that may appear between visits, which you must not ignore.
You should schedule an eye exam as soon as possible if you notice:
- Blurred vision
- Frequent headaches
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Straining your eyes, especially when using digital devices
- Double vision or wavy vision
- Eye discomfort or pressure
- Red, dry, or itchy eyes that persist
- Flashes of light or the sudden appearance of floaters
Remember, many severe eye conditions don’t have early symptoms. Even if your vision seems fine, visiting an eye doctor regularly for a checkup is important.
Eye exams aren’t limited to detecting vision problems. A comprehensive eye checkup is like a window into your general health.
At Jackson Davenport Vision Center, you will first consult your doctor during an eye exam to address any specific concerns or questions.
After this, we test the movement of your eye muscles, perform cover tests to check alignment, and perform various vision tests to assess your eyesight. We also perform more tests as needed.
Jackson Davenport has provided high-quality eye care services in Summerville, South Carolina, for over 50 years. We offer comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, and a wide range of designer frames. Our experienced team, led by Dr. Holstead, ensures that each patient receives personalized and attentive care.