5 Reasons To Get an Eye Exam

Eye health plays a key role in your overall well-being, yet people often overlook it until a problem arises. Regular eye exams help identify potential concerns early, helping you keep your vision sharp and your eyes healthy. Scheduling an exam can provide valuable insights if you’re experiencing changes in your sight or if you want to maintain good eye care routines. Here is an exploration of the distinctions between medical and routine eye exams and five reasons to book an exam:

What Are the Differences Between Medical Eye Exams and Routine Exams?

It’s helpful to know that there are different types of eye exams, each serving a distinct purpose. A routine eye exam primarily focuses on assessing your overall vision and determining if you need corrective lenses. These exams also include screenings for common eye conditions, but they may not involve in-depth testing for medical concerns.

Medical exams, on the other hand, are tailored to diagnose and treat various eye conditions. These exams are performed when you’ve reported symptoms of a specific issue or when a condition like diabetes necessitates closer monitoring. Eye doctors are skilled professionals who evaluate and manage various eye-related conditions and diseases. Some of the issues they assess include:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Cataracts
• Corneal ulcers and tears
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Dry eye syndrome
• Eye infections
• Glaucoma
• Macular dystrophy
• Traumatic eye damage

What Are Some Reasons to Get an Exam?

Eye exams are fundamental for maintaining not only your vision but also your overall health. Regular examinations allow professionals to detect vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism early so they can be corrected effectively with glasses, contact lenses, or other treatments. An eye exam can uncover signs of underlying health conditions long before symptoms appear elsewhere in the body.

This preventive approach helps protect both your vision and general well-being. Whether you’re experiencing noticeable changes in your sight or believe your vision is perfectly fine, routine exams are key for safeguarding your eye health and catching potential conditions before they escalate. Here are five reasons to see an optometrist:

1. Blurry Vision

Are objects or text appearing less clear than they used to? Blurry vision can stem from common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. It could also signal more complex issues, such as cataracts or other eye conditions. An eye exam will pinpoint the cause and determine solutions like updated prescriptions, treatments, or further intervention for condition management.

2. Night Blindness

If you’re struggling to see clearly in low-light or dark environments, night blindness may be impacting you. Night blindness, also called nyctalopia, might result from conditions such as vitamin A deficiency, cataracts, or macular degeneration. An optometrist can help uncover what’s behind your difficulty seeing and suggest tailored steps to improve your night vision.

3. Eye Pain

Eye pain can range from mild discomfort to sharp, persistent aches. This symptom should not be ignored, as it may signal a deeper issue, such as dry eye, glaucoma, corneal ulcers, or even an infection. A thorough exam can help an eye doctor identify the exact cause and provide relief. Some other common causes of eye pain include:

• Allergies or Eye Irritation
• Infection
• Scratch or Injury
• Cornea Sunburn

4. Light Sensitivity

If you feel uncomfortable or are squinting more often in bright light, this could indicate light sensitivity, also known as photophobia. It impacts vision adjustment to light sources, especially when transitioning from indoor to outdoor lighting. Potential causes include migraines, dry eye, eye infections, or more serious conditions like corneal damage. Exams are key to discovering the root cause of light sensitivity and preventing further irritation or damage.

5. Double Vision

Seeing double, whether horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, is a symptom that warrants immediate evaluation. Double vision could be caused by issues ranging from muscle weakness or nerve problems to more severe conditions involving the brain and eyes, like a stroke. A medical exam can identify whether the cause is eye-related or systemic and guide you toward the appropriate course of action.

Get an Eye Exam Today

Your eyes are foundational to how you experience the world. Scheduling regular eye exams is an investment in your long-term visual health. Whether it’s blurry vision, eye pain, or changes in light sensitivity, addressing these symptoms early can prevent more complex issues down the line. Book an appointment with an eye care professional today to learn how they can help you.