Routine eye exams are very important not only to determine if you need correction to see well but also to maintain the health of your eye. Vision and eye health changes can occur without you noticing. The earlier a vision problem is detected and treated, the more likely treatment will result in success, so routine, comprehensive eye exams are important.
For routine exams, we recommend that you schedule your appointment with one of our optometrists. If you have a medical problem or history of eye disease that dictates medical or surgical treatment, we recommend that you schedule with one of our ophthalmologists. Our optometrists and ophthalmologists work together as a team ensuring the best possible solutions for your unique eyes. Your eye exam is very thorough and includes the following:
Your eye exam will take approximately 1 1/2 hours and your eyes will be dilated which means you will not be able to see up close to read or perform other near work for 4-6 hours. After your eyes are dilated, you will also be very sensitive to the light so we recommend using sunglasses. We are happy to provide disposable sunglasses to you if you prefer.
Routine eye care ensures the continued good health of your eyes. There are different eye problems that are not always noticeable to a patient and routine eye care helps prevent these conditions that may affect your vision. Because eyes change with time, your routine eye care in greater Grand Rapids should include:
A comprehensive eye exam is a visit to the eye doctor to check on the health of your eyes and screen for diseases.
If you wear glasses or contacts, a refraction will also likely be performed to update your prescription. Refractive errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and glasses and contact lenses can often help improve vision. It’s advisable to have an eye exam at least once every year, even when your vision seems perfect.
Most eye diseases are not noticeable until they have already developed. At this point, they will start to affect your vision. An eye exam is the only way to detect these conditions before they cause vision loss. Some eye diseases such as glaucoma don’t have a cure and can only be managed. If left untreated, glaucoma will lead to irreversible blindness. That makes it crucial for diagnosis and treatment to begin as soon as possible.
You may also consider scheduling an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as you notice symptoms such as:
Everyone should schedule routine eye exams. The Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that routine eye exams are essential, even if our eyes and vision are fine. How often you should have eye exams depends on a few things. A child should have his or her first thorough eye exam before they start kindergarten, if not before.
If you have refractive errors–nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism–you should have an eye exam once a year. If you have good vision, you should see your eye doctor every other year to check your eye health. As you get older, the frequency of appointments will often change, as you’re more likely to develop glaucoma or cataracts.
