Why do I need routine eye exams?
Even if your vision is fine, you should still get routine eye exams to protect your eye health and prevent future vision loss. Common eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy develop slowly over many years.
As these conditions get progressively worse, you won’t experience symptoms until the disease causes enough eye damage to affect your vision. By the time your vision changes, however, it’s often too late to reverse the problem.
During your routine eye exam, your optometrist at Visionaire Eye Consultants at Sterling Ranch examines the inside of your eye. They can detect the earliest sign of eye disease and recommend treatment to prevent progression and preserve your vision.
How often should adults schedule eye exams?
Everyone should have a comprehensive eye exam around the age of 40. If you’re healthy and your initial exam doesn’t reveal signs of problems, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends following this eye exam schedule:
- Ages 18-30: Eye exam every 5-10 years
- Ages 40-54: Eye exam every 2-4 years
- Ages 55-64: Eye exam every 1-3 years
- Age 65 and over: Every 1-2 years
If you have risk factors, you need more frequent eye exams. For example, people with diabetes should have an exam every year, while those at risk for glaucoma need to have an eye exam every 1-3 years at every age.
What types of tests should I expect during my eye exam?
When the team at Visionaire Eye Consultants at Sterling Ranch performs a comprehensive eye exam, they include vision testing, a dilated eye exam, and diagnostic tests for eye conditions if needed. These are a few of the tests commonly performed:
- Tonometry to measure eye pressure
- Visual field test to evaluate peripheral vision
- Visual acuity test to determine refractive errors
- Slit-lamp exam to get a magnified view of your eyes
- Eye function tests to determine color vision, depth perception, response to light, and eye muscle coordination
After your vision tests are completed, your optometrist dilates your pupils and examines the optic nerve, retina, and blood vessels inside your eyes. The health of these internal structures reveals signs of eye disease.
If it’s time for you to schedule an eye exam or you have any questions, call Visionaire Eye Consultants at Sterling Ranch or book an appointment online.
We are Optometrists & Opticians located in Sterling Ranch, Littleton, CO. Call us to book your appointment today.
