Regular eye exams are essential in preserving your eye health and vision. Many factors contribute to the overall health of our eyes and cause changes we may not always be aware of. These factors can include medications, hormones, the environment our eyes are in, and the natural aging process. Comprehensive eye exams also offer insight into the overall health of your body. Many eye diseases do not have any signs or symptoms, therefore you must visit your eye doctor regularly to ensure you are keeping ahead of any possible vision loss or diseases such as glaucoma.
Book An Eye Exam With Our Trusted Calgary Optometrists
When it comes to scheduling regular health check-ups, eye exams are often overlooked. Our team of experienced eye doctors at Market Mall Optometry understands just how important regular eye exams are for your overall health. We offer comprehensive optometry services that will ensure your eyes are well taken care of.
What Is An Eye Examination / Test?
Eye doctors use a wide variety of tests and procedures to examine your eyes. These tests range from simple to complex and offer insight to analyze three main aspects of your eyes:
- Optimizing Your Vision: Good eyesight is essential to everyday life, and poor vision can end up disrupting your daily lifestyle. Your optometrist will focus on different aspects of your vision and conduct tests accordingly. These aspects can include:
- Eyestrain
- Overall perception (color, object tracking, depth perception).
- Driving
- Sports vision
- Reading vision
- Refractive error
- Prevent Vision Loss & Eye Disease
Many different types of vision loss can be avoided with regular eye exams. Common eye diseases and vision loss are often non-symptomatic and show no early onset signs until it is too late. By attending regular eye exams, you will be able to detect these diseases early on and take preventative measures to ensure your lifestyle is not negatively affected. Here are some common vision loss conditions and eye diseases that can be prevented through regular observation:
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- “Lazy eye”
- Diabetic retinopathy
Indication Of Overall Health
Through eye exams, optometrists can detect and diagnose systemic diseases. The blood vessels in your eyes can also indicate high blood pressure, cancer, and much more! Examples include:
- Neurological disease
- Vascular disease
- Inflammatory disease
What To Expect During An Eye Exam
After discussing past medical history, your optometrist will perform a series of tests to evaluate all aspects of your vision. Vision tests include:
- A retinoscopy- predicts the approximation of your prescription
- Visual acuity test- measures the sharpness of your vision at both close and far distances
- Color vision- checks signs of color blindness
- Refraction test- helps determine the type of prescription you may need
- Cover test- checks eye alignment at close and far distances
- Ocular motility test- assesses the accuracy of your eye movements
- Stereopsis test- measures lazy eyes and well as depth perception
Ocular Health:
- Slit lamp- facilitates the identification of any eye diseases or conditions
- Glaucoma test- measures the pressure inside your eye to calculate your intraocular pressure
- Visual field test- detects the presence of any blind spots in your peripheral vision
Recommended Eye Exam Frequency
The following frequencies for adult eye exams are based on age:
- Ages 20-30: Every 1-2 years
- Ages 45-54: Every 1-2 years
- Ages 55 and up: Once a year
Early signs of ocular disease start to develop around the ages of 40-50 so it is important to see your optometrist more regularly as you get older. Early detection of ocular disease enables faster treatment and reduces the chances of vision loss.
FAQ
How long should I expect my eye exam to take?
Many comprehensive eye exams can take up to an hour depending on the complexity of the tests being conducted as well as your visual assessments and needs.
Are eye exams painful?
Eye exams should not be painful as most of the tests are non-contact. You may feel slight discomfort from keeping your eyes open for longer periods.
How long are eye exam prescriptions good for?
Eyeglass prescriptions will normally last for 2 years, while contact lenses last for up to one year
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