COMPREHENSIVE
​​​​​​​EYE EXAM

Why are annual comprehensive eye exams so important?

As we all know, annual eye exams are about far more than just determining if you need glasses or contact lenses, or a change to your current prescription. Our eyes can become damaged and diseased, just like any other part of our body. However, since as a population we rely more on our eyesight than any other sense, it is essential that we do all that we can to closely monitor our ocular health and well-being. Your optometrist is the best person to support you in this endeavor and the way that they can do this is through comprehensive annual eye exams.

Regular eye exams help prevent eye diseases from occurring

As you probably know, there is a range of different eye diseases that can affect us during our lifetime. Some of these have the potential to have permanent repercussions for our eyesight. One of the most common is glaucoma, a condition that can cause total vision loss. Other common eye disorders include:

• Age-related macular degeneration

• Cataracts

• Floaters

• Keratoconus

• Retinal detachment

• Uveitis

• Diabetic Retinopathy
  
  

Why annual eye exams are especially important for those who are diabetics and people at risk of this condition...

Annual eye exams are recommended for everyone, but they are particularly important for patients who either have or are at high risk of diabetes. This is because patients with diabetes are more likely to suffer from an ocular condition known as diabetic retinopathy which can cause damage to the eyes. While this damage cannot be reversed, it can be slowed, and identifying diabetic retinopathy early is essential if you and your optometrist are to limit the impairment to your eyesight.

Annual eye exams could detect non-ocular health problems too

Many people are surprised to learn that the condition of their eyes can also tell their optometrist about their general health and well-being. There are a number of elements to this, with one of the key ones being your optometrist’s assessment of the blood vessels in your retina. Their condition could be indicative of other blood vessels throughout your body, and conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can all be detected using visible changes in the appearance of the blood vessels and flow of blood to the retina.

Eye exams will help your child to do well at school

Much of what your child will learn at school will involve their eyesight. Therefore, if their vision is compromised, so too will their education be. Unfortunately, the natural naivety of children means that many don’t even realize that they maybe aren’t seeing as clearly as they could be – they simply think that the image they see is the image as it is. In some instances, a child may be struggling with their vision but unable to explain that they cannot see clearly. As such, regular eye exams are just as important for our little people as they are for us as adults. If your child can see clearly, he is already on the right path to succeed in school.

Regular eye exams will make your day to day life easier

If you are found to need glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision, you will almost certainly agree that attending your regular eye exam will have made your life easier. The trouble is that it is very easy to overlook mild sight problems, often not addressing them until they are having a significant impact on your life. This means that you may be struggling unnecessarily for months or even years. However, by making the time to attend a comprehensive annual eye exam, you can start getting the ocular support you need straight away, making your day to day life far more straightforward. You could also avoid unpleasant symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, and watery eyes.
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​​​​​​​If you would like more information on our annual comprehensive eye exams, or if you are ready to schedule an appointment, please get in touch with our staff at South Gate Optometry.