Importance of Routine Eye Exams

December 9, 2020

 

When you have a busy lifestyle, making time for routine appointments can seem like a low priority. However, routine exams are actually a crucial part of preventative care. This includes routine eye exams. 
 

Most eye doctors recommend that you attend a routine eye exam at least once every two years. This frequency may be increased if you wear glasses or contact lenses, or if you suffer from a progressive eye condition like macular degeneration or glaucoma. It’s important to stick as closely to the schedule recommended to you as possible, as this enables your eye doctor to carefully monitor the health and condition of your eyes. 
 

Here are some of the main reasons why routine eye exams are so important.


 

It’s Easy to Take Good Vision for Granted 

 

We rely on our vision for the duration of our working day, yet many of us take clear sight for granted. It often isn’t until our vision becomes compromised that we realize quite how much we use it – for keeping us safe, for helping us to interact with people, to work, and to enjoy the hobbies that we choose. As arguably our most important sense, maintaining it for as long as possible should be a priority. Routine eye exams are invaluable for spotting developing problems early, enabling prompt treatment that can help preserve your vision for as long as possible. 

 

 

Routine Eye Exams can Prevent Problems in the Future

 

As with most medical problems, the earlier an issue with your eyes is detected, the more likely it is to be treated successfully, without having a lasting impact on your eyes and vision. Routine eye exams are focused on preventing problems from occurring by providing your eye doctor with regular opportunities to assess the health and condition of your eyes so that any unfavorable patterns in your results can be spotted early on when treatment is most effective. 

 

 

Your Routine Eye Exam can be Used to Detect Eye Diseases

 

Many people think that routine eye exams are all about the quality and clarity of your vision. While this certainly forms an important part of the appointment, the health of your eyes will also be comprehensively checked. This is done using a series of different tests that can detect the most common eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. If you have diabetes, your eyes will be assessed for signs of diabetic retinopathy, a common complication associated with the metabolic disorder. 

 

 

Not All Eye Diseases Cause Obvious Symptoms

 

Another reason why routine eye exams are so important is the fact that many eye diseases don’t cause symptoms until they have progressed beyond the earliest stages. At this point, there could already be significant and even irreversible damage to your eyes and vision. For example, glaucoma usually develops very slowly over a number of years with the initial symptom of the disease – poor peripheral vision – often being ignored or overlooked. Regular eye exams will help ensure that no issues are left undetected. 

 

 

Eye Exams can be Used to Detect Other Health Problems

 

Many people are surprised to learn that you can tell a great deal about someone’s health from the condition of their eyes. By examining the internal and external structures of your eye, your eye doctor will be able to detect issues such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, diabetes, sickle cell disease, and even some varieties of cancer. This will enable you to then seek the support of your family doctor.

 

 

If your routine eye exam is overdue, don’t wait any longer to schedule an appointment. Contact our team in Midtown East, New York, NY today. 

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