SAVE VOUR VISION MONTH
WHY A DILATED EYE EXAM?
Save your vision month is a national campaign with roots dating back to 1937 to promote eye health. Seeing your optometrist or ophthalmologist for your annual wellness visit is like seeing your primary care physician for your yearly physical, but for your eyes. There are many components to our visual system that allow us to see, and spectacles and contact lenses are only one piece of this puzzle. Even if you have 20/20 vision without glasses, it’s important to have regular dilated eye exams to ensure the inside of your eyes stay healthy.
Eye diseases like glaucoma, and macular degeneration in their early stages do not cause symptoms, but they can cause blindness. If detected early, lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, or medications can help prevent or at least slow down progression of these potentially blinding conditions. Systemic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure can often be seen in the eyes before a person feels ill. Regular check-ups with your eye doctor are not just for older folks. Children learn so much through
their vision. Your eye doctor can determine if your child needs corrective lenses for Myopia (nearsightedness) or Hyperopia (farsightedness) and also ascertain if there are any issues with eye teaming that can interfere with learning such as strabismus (eye turn), amblyopia (lazy eye), convergence insufficiency, or accommodative dysfunction. Sometimes a simple spectacle correction is needed, but other times more intense vision therapy or surgery is required.
How often should you be seen for a comprehensive dilated exam?
- Birth-2 years: 6-12 months of age for low risk individuals
- 3-5 years: At least once prior to entering school for low risk individuals
- 6-17 years: 1-2 years fi no correction and yearly if wearing correction
- 18-64 years: 1-2 years, yearly if wearing contact lenses.
- 65+ years: yearly
- Diabetics any age: yearly