9 Signs You May Need an Eye Exam

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Most eye care experts recommend that you have a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years, depending on your age, risk factors and whether or not you currently wear corrective lenses or eyeglasses.

Children: Children should have their first eye exam at around 6 months of age, another exam at 3 years old and again at the start of the school year. Risk-free children should then continue to have their eyes examined every 2 years until age 18.  Learn More >

Adults: To ensure long-term, healthy vision, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends a comprehensive eye exam every 2 years for adults aged 18-60 and annual exams for seniors (61+ years of age)

In addition to eye exams, our qualified Calgary eye doctors offer advanced vision services including diabetic retinal examinations, glaucoma testing and cataract management to ensure that patients of all ages can enjoy the benefits and improved quality of life that comes from clear and comfortable vision.

 

9 Signs You Need to Visit the Eye Doctor

For most patients, an eye exam every 1-2 years helps them stay on top of their eye health. However, vision can change significantly over the course of a year, especially for more senior patients, and it’s important to recognize the signs you may need to schedule a visit to your local eye clinic.

These include if you:

• Have diabetes or another health condition that affects your eyes. Also, if you have a family history of diabetes or glaucoma you may need more frequent eye exams.
• Hold books/newspapers further away from your face and/or squint your eyes to read them clearly
• Notice any spots, flashes of light or floaters in your vision
• Have difficulty driving at night or seeing street signs
• Are experiencing frequent headaches
• Have double vision
• Have trouble focusing/blurred vision
• Have an eye infection
• Are experiencing sensitivity to light

REMEMBER: Don’t wait until you are experiencing obvious signs of vision distress before you schedule an eye exam. Regular eye tests can benefit more than just your eyes: eye doctors can detect a wide range of diseases such as diabetes and cancer to help protect your overall health and general well being.

 

Specialized Eye Care at Market Mall Optometry

At Market Mall Optometry, our team works hard to preserve and improve the vision and health of each and every one of our patients. 

Some of our specialized eye care services include:

1. Diabetic Retinal Examinations

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina and is one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness in Canadians. Risk factors include:

• Duration of disease: the longer someone has had diabetes, the higher the risk
• Poor control of blood sugar levels
• High cholesterol levels
• Pregnancy
• High blood pressure

Who should book a diabetic retinal examination?

Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and should schedule a diabetic retinal examination at the local eye clinic. This dilated eye exam includes several tests such as:

• Visual acuity test
• Slit lamp exam
• Tonometry

 This specialized diabetic retinal examination is crucial because it allows your eye doctor to look for any signs of diabetes or diabetic retinopathy before any vision loss has occurred.

 

2. Cataract Management

Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 40 and is a condition which causes a clouding of the lens, impairing vision and impacting a patient’s ability to perform everyday activities such as driving and reading. Symptoms include:

• Cloudy/double/filmy vision
• Light sensitivity
• Poor night vision
• Sudden changes in your eyeglass prescription
• Changes in the way you see color

 What is involved in cataract diagnosis & management?

It is especially important for patients above the age of 40 to schedule regular dilated eye exams at least once every two years. During these vision tests, our optometrists will carefully examine your eyes for any signs of cataract formation.

 Cataract management and diagnosis includes a series of comprehensive vision tests such as:

• A health and medical history checkup
• Analysis of your vision history
• Visual acuity test
• Visual field test
• A comprehensive eye-health evaluation

 At Market Mall Optometry, our eye doctors can diagnose cataracts and refer you to an ophthalmologist for the required surgery as well as provide an array of cataract management services including all types of pre and post cataract surgery care.

 

3. Glaucoma Testing

Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain, becomes damaged. It can lead to permanent loss of vision if not detected and treated early on. While glaucoma doesn’t display any symptoms in its first stages, it may cause:

• Intense eye pain
• Eye redness
• Blurred peripheral vision
• Sudden vision loss
• Nausea or vomiting  

Glaucoma and its symptoms can have a life changing impact on patients, which is why it’s important to schedule regular glaucoma testing appointments with your eye doctor, especially if you present with glaucoma risk factors.

 At Market Mall Optometry, our optometrists provide comprehensive glaucoma testing services during which they are able to check your:

• Internal eye pressure
• Peripheral vision
• Optic nerve health
• Corneal thickness

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, it’s important to keep up annual glaucoma testing appointments so that your eye health professional can monitor your condition and ensure that your prescribed treatment is effectively maintaining a safe eye pressure to prevent vision loss.

 

Learn More

To find out more about our specialized eye care services including glaucoma testing and diabetic retinal examinations, contact our Calgary eye clinic at 403-286-4884 or book an eye exam today.