With over 70 years of combined experience and an unquestionable passion for advanced eye care, the ilumin physicians make it their mission to be the best eye care providers in the industry. Being the best means helping out, for example, giving advice about the basics of eye exams, as this blog addresses.
Why is it important to have an eye exam?
Eye exams support your eye health, as well as your overall health. When ilumin’s Dr. Parson and Dr. Goldstein were asked why eye exams are important, they responded with two important points:
- Someone can have eye problems that can’t be felt or affect vision until later on, and,
- General medical problems can often be diagnosed with an eye exam.
Did you know that diabetes can lead to damage to the retina and vision loss? Although not usually the case, this means that an eye exam can actually be the first visible sign of diabetes.
Also, did you know that hormone level changes can affect your eyesight, especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause?
This is just another great example of how your eyesight and overall health go hand in hand.
So what do physicians check for during an eye exam?
Eye doctors check a variety of things including your medical history, eye pressure, retina and optic nerve, your prescription for corrective lenses, side vision, eye movement, pupils, and your visual acuity. Visual acuity is the portion of the eye exam most individuals are familiar with, as this includes patients reading the standardized eye chart. Our physicians often tell patients in an eye exam they check your “eye health front to back”, meaning they provide a very comprehensive exam to ensure you are healthy. This sounds like a lot, but a typical eye exam averages 30 to 45 minutes.
When should you get an eye exam?
Most experts recommend individuals schedule an eye exam every one to three years, but this varies depending upon age, risk factors, and the usage of corrective lenses. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), it is essential to check children’s vision when they are first born, and again during infancy, preschool and school years. They should be checked regularly thereafter.
How can a patient come prepared for an eye exam at ilumin?
On what to bring to an eye exam, the ilumin doctors recommend:
- Bring your glasses.
- Stay out of any rigid or gas permeable contact lenses so we can get a more accurate prescription.
- Bring a list of your medications.
- Bring a copy of your insurance card, and
- Bring a list of questions or concerns about your health.
Where do you go to have an eye exam?
If you are in the Omaha area, ilumin is the perfect place to schedule. Our ophthalmologists have seen patients as young as one day old, and as old as 107 years old. Their specialties range from routine eye exams, to cataract surgery, cornea surgery, macular degeneration therapy, and even retinal or vitreous disorders.
