March is National Save Your Vision Month. While many of us think that having good vision simply means that our eyes are healthy, that is not always the case. Regular comprehensive eye exams can ensure that you not only keep your vision in great shape, but that you keep your eyes, and ultimately your body, healthy as well. Scheduling an eye exam is the first step to take in saving your vision.
In addition to evaluating your eyes for contact lenses and glasses, your eye doctor will also check your eyes for diseases and other issues that could contribute to vision loss.
Here are some exampled of the conditions your eye doctor will be looking for:
Eye teaming problems
It’s possible your eyes do not work together efficiently as a team, even if they appear to be properly aligned. Binocular vision problems can cause eye strain, headaches and other issues that can affect vision.
Refractive error
Refractive error refers to nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Refractive errors can be corrected by eyeglasses, contacts or refractive surgery.
Strabismus
Strabismus if more commonly known as crossed eyes. Your doctor will check your eyes’ alignment to make sure they are working properly together.
Eye diseases
Many eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, have no symptoms in their early stages of development. During your exam, your doctor will check the health of your eyes inside and out for signs of problems. In many cases, early detection and treatment of eye diseases can help reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.
Other diseases
By looking if your eyes’ blood vessels, retina, and other vital parts, your eye doctor can actually detect the early warning signs of certain conditions and diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and many other problems. For example, diabetes causes small blood vessel leaks or bleeding in the eye as well as swelling of the macula, which can lead to vision loss. Your eye doctor can detect this during a comprehensive eye exam and administer appropriate treatment.
Leave a Reply