Don’t Forget to Schedule Your Back-to-the-Routine Eye Exam
If you’ve finished all your school supply shopping, good for you! If your student has already gotten a fresh haircut, new kicks and cool backpack, you’re fully on the ball. But, what about a back-to-school comprehensive eye exam? New clothes, calculators and colored pencils are important, sure, but good vision is the very foundation for success in school.
August is the time to book a back-to-school eye exam for son or daughter; this includes elementary-aged students through college-aged young adults. Even if your child already wears glasses or contacts, our board-certified ophthalmologist recommends a yearly eye exam because vision can change rapidly when bodies are growing quickly. There is no better time to put it on the calendar than before the school bell rings.
Children of all ages need regular eye exams to detect vision problems that may impede their learning. Did you know that more than 80% of the information presented in classrooms is visual in nature? From traditional chalkboards and whiteboards to textbooks, tablets, smartphones and computer screens, students need to be free of eye strain and potential headaches that can result from uncorrected vision.
What is Included in a Comprehensive Eye Exam?
An annual comprehensive eye exam is important for students and adults. Here at Eye Medical Clinic in San Jose, we can take care of your eyes in every season of life.
Our comprehensive eye exam includes so much more than determining if a prescription is needed for eyeglasses or contact lenses. We will also check the eyes for any eye disease, assess how they work together as a team and evaluate the eyes as an indicator of overall health.
At Eye Medical Clinic, a comprehensive eye exam 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)
- refraction 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
We recommend that children should have their first pediatric eye exam at 6 months of age, another exam at age three and again at the start of school, with annual exams to follow. Young people with risk factors (such as premature birth, developmental delays and a family history of eye disease) should see an eye doctor more frequently.
And since caring for your eyes should be part of an overall approach to healthy living, we recommend that adults have a comprehensive eye exam once a year. Adults with certain risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of eye disease should see an eye doctor more often.
Is a Comprehensive Eye Exam Covered by Insurance?
Eye Medical Clinic is committed to making great vision affordable for everyone. Insurance coverage and convenient financing options make it possible. Many vision insurance plans cover at least a portion of eye exams, so be sure and check with our office to discuss coverage.
We accept insurance plans from dozens of providers across California. Please confirm your coverage with one of the members of our Eye Medical Clinic team at the time that you schedule your appointment.
As your family approaches a new school year, you want your children to have everything they need for a successful run. This includes clear vision. Make eye care a priority in your back-to-school planning.
Now is the perfect time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam at Eye Medical Clinic for “kids” of all ages, as part of an overall approach to health. Schedule your appointment with us today.
