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An annual eye exam is an important way to
monitor your optical and general health. Unfortunately, many people
ignore this vital aspect of health care. Many serious vision problems
have correctable early warning stages, and if caught early, conditions
which lead to blindness can be stopped. Unfortunately, by the time
symptoms begin to manifest, it may be too late. This is why most
optometrists prefer to see their patients at least once every two years
for an eye exam, and preferably once a year.
Eye exams serve as a preventative tool not
only for identifying eye impairments but also symptoms of serious
diseases. For example, examining the cornea and blood flow through the
retina in the eye can help eye care specialists detect signs of
diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Ultimately, this early detection can not only save patients' eyesight
but also alert them to the presence of disease before it causes serious
damage.
To take charge of your health, schedule an
eye exam with a local eyecare doctor who can provide you with a full
visual assessment. A comprehensive eye exam is straightforward, painless
and takes less than an hour to complete. By receiving your annual eye
exam, you will be taking a proactive step to safeguard your vision and
sustain your total-body health.
Eyecare experts recommend that everyone
have a complete eye exam every one to three years, depending on age,
risk factors, and physical condition.
INFANTS AND CHILDREN
Newborns are commonly screened at birth
for congenital eye disorders and disease. If there are abnormalities or
risk factors present, an infant should be seen by a doctor of optometry
by 6 months of age or sooner. Early diagnosis and treatment are
important in preventing vision loss due to eye disease and to treat
hereditary eye disorders such as lazy eye or crossed eyes.
If there are no symptoms of abnormalities,
it is recommended that a child be re-examined at age 3 and prior to
entering school. Such exams provide an opportunity to evaluate a
child's visual development and can provide early diagnosis and
intervention to prevent visual impairment due to various conditions.
At Risk: Infants born prematurely, with
low birth weight, or whose mother had rubella, venereal disease,
AIDS-related infection or a history of substance abuse or other medical
problems during pregnancy are at a particularly high risk for the
development of eye and vision problems. Also, the presence of high
refractive error or a family history of eye disease, crossed eyes or
congenital or hereditary eye disorders places infants and children at
risk.
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
Vision may change frequently during the
school years. The most common problems are due to the development and
progression of nearsightedness. In addition, the existence of eye
focusing and/or eye coordination problems may affect school
performance. Periodic examinations are recommended.
At Risk: Children failing to progress
educationally or exhibiting reading and/or learning disabilities should
receive an optometric examination as part of a multidisciplinary
evaluation.
ADULTS
During the adult years, the increased
visual demands of our technological society bring about the need for
regular optometric care. While the incidence of ocular disease is low
for young adults, vocational and recreational visual demands are
significant. To maintain visual efficiency, productivity, and optimum
eye health, periodic examinations are recommended.
Adults, beginning in their early to
mid-40s, can experience changes in their ability to see clearly at close
distances. This normal aging change in the eye's focusing ability will
continue during the 40s and 50s. In addition, increases in the
incidence of eye health problems occur during these years. Therefore,
periodic eye examinations are recommended.
At Risk: Individuals diagnosed with
diabetes or hypertension, or who have a family history of glaucoma,
those who work in highly visually demanding or eye hazardous
occupations, those taking certain systemic medications with ocular side
effects or those with other health concerns or conditions.
OLDER ADULTS
Individuals age 61 or older have an
increasing risk for the development of cataracts, glaucoma and macular
degeneration and other sight threatening or visually disabling eye
conditions as well as systemic health conditions. Therefore, annual eye
examinations are recommended.
At Risk: Individuals diagnosed with
diabetes or hypertension, or who have a family history of glaucoma or
cataracts, and those taking systemic medications with ocular side
effects or those with other health concerns or conditions.
The important thing to remember is that
regular examinations by an ophthalmologist are essential to early
detection and treatment of age-related vision loss. |
