Why Have an Eye Exam?
Eye exams are the very first step towards managing and preserving your vision and eye health. Our eyes are also a window to our general health, which makes routine eye exams very important.
Comprehensive eye exams at Insight Eyecare not only test your vision, but our Optometrists view the back of your eye – looking at the blood vessels and nerves, all of which could be affected by certain health conditions. Some of these conditions can be very serious and catching them early can actually save your life.
By looking at the back of the eye (the retina), we can detect diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cancers, such as brain tumors and ocular melanomas. Our eyes can also reveal and show signs of aneurysms, liver disease, thyroid disease, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders.
Eye exams are important throughout your life, but different risks are associated with different age groups:
Between the ages of 18 and 64, eye diseases can occur without your knowledge. Our optometrists recommend having an eye exam every year to catch these issues and preserve your vision.
Eye diseases, like glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration, are prevalent in patients over the age of 60. Because of this, our optometrists recommend having annual eye exams.
However, if you’re at risk of developing an eye disease, you may be advised to have an eye exam more frequently.
You’re considered to be at-risk if:
- You or your family has a history of eye health concerns
- You have medical issues related to eye conditions
- You take medications with ocular side effects
- You wear contact lenses
- You have had eye surgery
- You have had an eye injury
- You have a high refractive error
