The Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams

Many people believe that if they can see clearly, their eyes are healthy. However, clear vision is only one part of the picture. A comprehensive eye exam is a vital part of your overall health maintenance, offering insights that go far beyond just updating your glasses or contact lens prescription.

More Than Just a Vision Check

During a comprehensive eye exam, our optometrists evaluate the overall health of your eyes. We look at the internal and external structures, checking for signs of common eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Because many of these conditions develop slowly and without early symptoms, regular exams are the only way to catch them before they cause irreversible vision loss.

A Window to Your Overall Health

Your eyes are the only place in your body where a doctor can see your blood vessels in their natural state without surgery. Because of this, eye exams can often be the first step in detecting systemic health issues, including:

• Diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Certain types of cancers and autoimmune diseases

How Often Should You Get an Exam?

The American Optometric Association recommends that most adults have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. However, if you wear corrective lenses, have a family history of eye disease, or have health conditions like diabetes, you should be examined annually. Children should have their first exam at 6 months, again at age 3, and right before starting school.

Don’t wait until you experience vision problems to see an eye doctor. Preventative care is the best way to ensure a lifetime of healthy vision.