When people think of taking care of their health, they typically think about going to the doctor for a physical on a yearly basis and getting their teeth checked and cleaned. What they are often neglecting is their eyes! Vision health is an essential part of your well-being, and unfortunately, it is something that is often neglected until it starts to seriously impair the way that a person lives their life. This is both tragic and unnecessary, and if you have never considered getting your eyes checked, there are some important facts that you need to consider.
How Often Should I Get My Eyes Checked?
Just like physicals, the frequency with which you get your vision checked is something that varies based on your current health and situation. If you already have eyeglasses or contacts, you should get your vision checked every year. They call the strength of your lenses a prescription, and you should treat it exactly like a medical prescription. They expire, and they need to be updated. If you do not have any existing vision problems, you can put off a vision test for upwards of two to three years.
Children, because their bodies change so dramatically and so swiftly, should have their vision checked once a year. This is an important part of your child’s health. Certain conditions also necessitate regular yearly eye exams due to the fact that they have a high incidence of causing eye damage. Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause some serious problems for your vision, so get your eyes checked on a regular basis if either of these conditions are risk factors for you.
When Should I Go Straight to the Ophthalmologist?
There are situations where you need to head to the ophthalmologist. For example, if you suddenly notice that your vision is blurry or swimming, you should find an eye specialist right away. Distorted images, dry eyes, eyes that itch and faint wavy lines are also indications that you need to get your eyes looked at. Eye pain and flashes of light are also signs that something that might be going on.
Why Get My Eyes Checked?
There are a number of different vision problems that can occur even when someone is otherwise healthy. Vision issues can appear at any time, and even people who have had perfect vision their entire lives may suddenly notice that things are getting blurry. Not everyone is diagnosed with far-sightedness or near-sightedness when they are very young; some people don’t develop this problem until they are much older. As we age, the likelihood of vision problems go up. Macular degeneration and cataracts are just two common problems that can occur as we age. The sooner these issues are diagnosed, the sooner they can be treated. Proper treatment often means that the progression of the eye disease is
What Is Involved in an Eye Exam?
An eye exam is a relatively straightforward procedure, and you will find that knowing what is going to happen can help you prepare. When you go to the ophthalmologist, you should first let them know about any problems that you are having and whether anyone in your family has diabetes. This will help them figure out what they need to look for, if anything. There will be a physical examination of your eyes to make sure that there are no outward signs of damage, and then your vision will be tested by reading numbers and letters from charts.
On top of that, you will also be tested for color-blindness. After that portion of the examination, most ophthalmologists will give you the option of having your eyes dilated. Eye dilation causes the pupil of your eyes to open, which gives the doctor a better look at the interior of your eye. However, eye dilation will make you much more sensitive to light for a few hours afterward. This is distressing if you need to drive or to do anything after your appointment, so keep the inconvenience in mind as you plan for your appointment.
Can I Care For My Eyes?
Many people never think about taking care of their eyes, but the truth is that this is entirely possible. There are many small things that you can do to make sure that your eyes stay healthy for as long as possible. For example, when you are dealing with the degeneration of the eye in general, you will find that you can reduce the disease’s progression through increased consumption of foods that contain zinc, beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. This means that eating foods like fruits, leafy greens, and brightly colored vegetables can dramatically increase your eyes’ health.
Take care of your eyes now, instead of waiting until something goes wrong. Good eye health can start today, so consider what you can do to make sure that your eyes stay in good shape!
20/20 Institute Indianapolis is the leader in vision correction in Indiana. Call for a free consultation if you want to know if you qualify for the LASIK eye doctor in Indianapolis.