The Importance of Yearly Exams

Many people think that if they aren’t having vision issues and everything appears “normal”, there is no need to schedule their annual eye exam. The word “normal” is very subjective. Until another option is given, one’s “normal” clarity may very well be blurry. Your eyes could also have serious problems that are rarely noticed due to a peripheral retinal issue versus a central retinal issue. This is why it is crucial to visit your primary eye doctor every year and ensure your eyes are healthy.

At your annual eye exam, there are lots of things your eye doctor will take into consideration to properly assess the health of your eyes. The first of this would be obtaining a complete personal and family medical history. This will include vision problems as well as conditions that aren’t eye related, but could affect your eyes (i.e., diabetes, blood pressure, heart conditions, neurological disorders, and more). Other parts of a typical comprehensive eye exam include

  • Digital Visual Acuity: This is generally measured with a reading chart to evaluate how clearly you can see at a distance and near.
  • Preliminary Tests: This includes testing your peripheral vision, depth perception, color vision, eye muscle movements, and how your pupils react to light.
  • Digital Screening Tests: At PersonalEyes, we offer Retinal Screenings, OCT Macular and Disc Screenings, and Meibomianography Screenings to check on the health of your eye and ensure there are no underlying eye conditions.
  • Eye Pressure Test: This is the part of the eye exam most people know of, as it is generally known as the dreaded “puff of air”. The anticipation of when the puff of air will happen is what generally scares patients, but at PersonalEyes, we have technology that checks your eye pressure WITHOUT a puff of air, something that patients truly appreciate while achieving better, more accurate results.
  • Digital Slit-lamp: This allows your doctor to see your eye up close and get a better look at structures like your tear ducts, cornea, and lens as well as the retina and optic nerve.

These eye exams also assess how often you need to see your eye doctor based on the condition your eye is at. For example, if you wear contact lenses, you need to come in every year to ensure any changes in your eyes have not affected the way your lenses fit. Or if you are diabetic, a dilated eye exam is crucial to check for damage, which can be slowed, but not reversed. Other conditions like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, melanomas, cataracts, eye muscle problems, and more all play a role in how often you will need to see your eye doctor and the testing that needs to be done.

All in all, patients should always ensure they come in for their annual eye exam and ensure all is well with their eyes. If you are looking to get your eyes checked, contact PersonalEyes Vision Care at 817-527-3604 and we can help you get on track to healthier eyes!

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