Most of us do not get regular eye checkups. Until something goes awry, it’s usually not a high priority. The American Optometric Association (AOA) believes having an eye exam just ‘when something goes wrong’ is a bad idea. They advocate annual or bi-annual eye exams for adults forty and older. The association also recommends yearly exams for children and adults alike—regardless of age—who are currently wearing corrective lenses.
A thorough eye exam scrupulously probe for refractive errors in vision that indicate such common vision conditions as myopia and hyperopia, better known as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Courtesy of visiting the eye doctor, millions of people every year see—quite literally—vast improvements in the quality of their lives with new pairs of glasses, contacts, and office laser surgeries.
Comprehensive exams measure eye pressure and the coordination of eye muscles, too. This enables doctors to make early diagnoses of serious eye diseases that frequently develop with age, including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Eye examinations can detect developing tumors and other potentially life-threatening health issues. In many instances, completely unforeseen eye disorders can be promptly addressed before any lasting damage to your vision occurs.
In addition to advancing age and previously diagnosed vision problems as sound reasons to schedule regular eye exams, a family history of related disorders is yet another. If, for example, you have a parent, grandparent, or both who suffered from glaucoma, you are automatically deemed at higher risk for developing the same eye disease in the future. A prior eye injury also makes you more likely to encounter further vision difficulties with the passage of time.
Moreover, a frequent eye exam is indispensable for those afflicted with diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic illnesses of any kind. Our eyesight is often impacted by myriad ailments that are not eye-specific. Vision troubles are sometimes symptoms of diseases originating in other parts of the body.
The bottom line is that scheduling regular exams—yearly or otherwise—is a prudent practice to adopt, regardless of your present health circumstances. Catching eye problems in their earliest stages—of any severity—is crucial to effective treatment and recovery. Eye examinations are preventative medicine. And your eyesight is not something that you want to leave to chance.
Please visit our clinic here in Ogden for a comprehensive eye exam with one of our professionals.
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