Getting your eyes checked regularly is important. And while your doctor uses this visit to determine your prescription for eyeglasses or contacts, he’s also checking for common eye diseases. In fact, eye doctors are commonly the first to find chronic systemic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Here are some main reasons putting off your eye exam is never a good idea.
- Detecting Eye Disease
A comprehensive eye exam can detect a number of vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, misaligned eyes (amblyopia), crossed eyes (strabismus), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and dry eyes. And regular eye exams become even more crucial as you get older when developing eye problems becomes more likely. - Identifying Major Medical Conditions
It may surprise you to learn that above any other part of your body, your eyes provide the clearest view of your arteries, blood vessels and cranial nerve. By just looking into your eyes, your doctor can identify a wide range of medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, Crohn’s disease, artery disease, grave’s disease (hyperthyroidism) and other auto-immune disorders. - Preventing Impaired Vision and Blindness
Your eye doctor can detect eye diseases that, if not identified early on, can be untreatable in the later stages. These include retinal detachment, vascular and corneal disease, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. If these conditions are left untreated, they can cause vision impairment and, in some cases, blindness.
The moral of the story?
Don’t skip your eye exam. Regular eye exams matter, regardless of your age or physical health. They help you see more clearly and preserve your vision for a lifetime. Adults need to see the eye doctor once a year. If you haven’t had a comprehensive exam in over a year, please call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.