The Importance of Regular Eye Exams
There’s no question comprehensive eye exams are an important part of overall good health. The quality of your vision affects everything from school and work performance to driving, hobbying, working out and just about any other activity you can think of. But the importance of annual eye exams goes well beyond just making sure your vision isn’t blurry. Good eye health can safeguard your health and wellness and even prevent disease.
Vision Screening Versus Comprehensive Eye Exam. What’s the Difference?
The difference between a vision screening and a comprehensive eye exam is significant and worth exploring. A vision screening is a quick, limited test that is used to identify possible vision problems. Screenings can be performed by a school nurse or at the pediatrician’s office; even at the DMV! But a vision screening is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam.
A comprehensive eye exam will, of course, check to see if you need a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. But a thorough comprehensive eye exam, such as what we perform at Eye Medical Clinic, does so much more!
Our experienced eye doctors will also check your eyes for any eye disease, assess how your eyes work together as a team and evaluate your eyes as an indicator of your overall health. A comprehensive eye exam at our San Jose office also includes a number of diagnostic tests and procedures that will examine and evaluate the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision.
A comprehensive eye exam at Eye Medical Clinic will include:
- a visual acuity test to measure how sharp your vision is
- a motility exam to see how well your eyes work together and to rule out strabismus (crossed eyes)
- a refraction test to determine your best-corrected vision prescription
- tests to assess your risk for developing glaucoma
- pupil dilation to help detect cataracts, macular degeneration and other serious eye conditions
How Often Should I Have an Eye Exam?
Healthy eyes are vital to a healthy life. For this reason, our expert eye doctors recommend that you have a comprehensive eye exam once a year.
For the kiddos:
For children, regular pediatric eye care is as important as regular medical checkups. Since so much of what is presented in a classroom setting is visual in nature, children must be able to see well in order to perform well in school.
We recommend that children should have their first pediatric eye screening at age 6 months, another when they turn three years old and again at the start of school. Beyond that, an annual eye exam with a pediatric ophthalmologist is recommended. Children who have risk factors (such as premature birth, developmental delays and a family history of eye disease) should see their eye doctor more frequently.
For the grownups:
For adults to maintain healthy eyes for a lifetime, we recommend annual comprehensive eye exams. Adults with certain risk factors should have more frequent eye exams. Vision-related risk factors for adults can include a family history of eye disease (glaucoma and macular degeneration), diabetes, high blood pressure, prescriptions with eye-related side effects, a visually demanding occupation, previous eye injury or eye surgery.
For children and adults, it is recommended to check with their regular eye care specialist to determine how often an exam is recommended based on their own unique needs.
Which Type of Eye Doctor is Right for Me?
Ideally, you should trust your eyes to a team that includes an optometrist and an ophthalmologist as each has a unique skill set. At Eye Medical Clinic, you can have all your eye needs conveniently addressed in one visit.
Our optometrists can evaluate your vision and provide prescriptions for glasses or contacts if needed. They also work to detect eye abnormalities and treat conditions such as dry eye and astigmatism. Our board-certified ophthalmologists are qualified to perform surgical procedures such as cataract and refractive surgery. They can also examine and treat medical eye conditions as well as provide refraction for glasses.
Comprehensive Eye Care for the Whole Family
Eye Medical Clinic has both optometrists and ophthalmologists on our experienced team of eye specialists! We have proudly served the Bay Area for more than 70 years and we are fully equipped to care for the eye needs of the youngest member of your family to the most senior member.
We invite you to experience our expert eye care for every generation at Eye Medical Clinic. Our team of experienced doctors John Sullivan, MD; Mona Bagga, MD and Christina Nguyen Deane, OD, as well as a highly trained and dedicated staff, is dedicated to helping you enjoy your life to the fullest…with the clear vision you deserve. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today
