An eye examination once or twice a year is crucial if you want to track your eyes’ health. Identifying an eye condition early on helps your doctor slow the progression, minimizing your chances of vision loss. Stephen Wolchok, a certified specialist in ophthalmology in Jacksonville, FL, asserts that your eyes go through changes that might affect your vision as your body ages. Therefore, an annual eye exam is essential. However, eye issues are not your only reason for an assessment. Contacting your ophthalmologist for an evaluation will help you know of your risks of developing eye ailments and counteracting them before the issues advance.
When to contact your doctor for an eye exam
Several factors, including your age, play a significant role in determining how frequently your ophthalmologist will suggest an eye exam. For instance:
- In children 3years and below
Being your child’s early developmental years, the pediatrician will assess your child’s eyes, looking for childhood eye concerns like misaligned eyes, lazy eyes or cross-eyes. However, the medical expert will conduct a thorough eye evaluation to check for vision problems and other concerns like eye alignment when the young one is between 3-5years.
- In children above 5years
Taking your child for an eye examination does not necessarily indicate he has an eye condition. An examination before your child starts school is crucial because it will determine how often your child will need an evaluation.
- In adults
You might consider going for an eye exam in your 40s, especially if you are healthy, without eye problems. At 40, you might start to experience vision changes with the onset of eye ailments. Your ophthalmologist will advise on the number of future evaluations, depending on your screening results. However, if you are 60years or older, your healthcare provider may recommend an exam annually or after two years.
Your ophthalmologist will increase the frequency of your eye examination if you have:
- Vision loss
- A family history of eye ailments
- Glasses or wear contact lenses
- A chronic eye condition that increases your risk of developing eye complications
- Take medications with severe eye side effects
What happens during an eye examination?
An eye exam entails three standard steps:
- Your healthcare provider will assess your visual acuity to determine whether you need contact lenses or wear eyeglasses to enhance your vision
- The medical professional will then measure your eye pressure. The ophthalmologist will give you a numbing drop and eye drops to dilate your eyes, making it easy for him to look into your eyes.
- After the dilation effect, the eye specialist will use imaging to check the front of your eyes and inside each eye.
After the assessment, your doctor will discuss your results, including your risk of developing an eye condition. He might also advise you on preventive measures to help protect your eyesight.
What happens during ocular motility testing?
Your ophthalmologist will suggest eye movement testing to assess how efficiently your eyes can follow an object in motion. Issues with eye movements may result in eye strain, thus affecting your reading ability and participation in other activities like sports.
An eye exam is your only way of knowing how healthy your eyes are. Schedule an eye exam appointment with your ophthalmologist to know the state of your eyes.
