The Importance of Routine Eye Exams
- Posted on: Nov 15 2019
Your eyes are the windows to your health, and increasingly so as we age. With each passing year, the need for regular eye exams grows even more important. So many common diseases go unnoticed without symptoms before causing problems to your vision. That’s why routine screening and early detection are key to keeping your eyes healthy and ahead of eye disease. Here are just some of the conditions we screen for during a regular eye exam:
Dry eye
Dry eyes can be unbearable between the redness, itchiness and pain when the eyes are not sufficiently lubricated. Treating dry eye is important because if symptoms are not treated, they have the potential to damage your vision. If you’re experiencing some symptoms of dry eye, your doctor can start you off with conservative treatments such as eye drops or medication.
Diabetic eye disease
As patients with diabetes are at a high risk of developing eye conditions as a complication of her disease, they need to have their eyes examined at least once a year. Diabetic eye conditions can develop without any noticeable loss of vision or pain, but significant damage may have occurred by the time patients notice and schedule their exam.
Macular degeneration
Macular degeneration is a common condition in older adults and the leading cause of vision loss in those 50 or older. This condition affects the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for the detailed, crisp central vision needed for reading or driving.
Glaucoma
A leading cause of blindness and visual impairment, glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, causing vision loss. Many people who have glaucoma don’t have any symptoms or notice them until they’ve lost a significant amount of vision. Early detection through regular eye exams will help you stay ahead of this and other eye conditions.
How often should I have an eye exam?
For adults, the American Optometric Association recommends that you get regular eye exams every five to 10 years when you are in your 20s and 30s; every two to four years from ages 40 to 54; every one to three years from ages 55 to 64; and every year after age 65.
To learn more or to schedule an eye exam, contact our Everett office at (425) 259-2020.
Posted in: Routine Eye Care
