The value of an eye exam goes far beyond the updating of a vision prescription. Here are the top three reasons you and your family should make sure that you schedule a visit to see an optometrist at least once a year.
- Vision correction
Obtaining or updating prescriptions is one of the most common reasons to get an eye exam. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you need to have your prescriptions verified regularly. Eyes change, and a prescription that’s a few years old can be doing you as much harm as good. Wearing contacts comes with many risks, and an annual eye exam is necessary to make sure that not only is your prescription correct, but that your eyes are healthy. Eye exams for vision correction are still important even if you don’t already wear glasses or contact lenses. For children, a regular vision check is absolutely critical to make sure they are able to keep up in school–it’s hard to succeed in class when you can’t see the front of the room clearly!
- Eye diseases
A simple vision test may be able to determine if your eyes are able to see correctly at a particular distance, but only a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist will actually evaluate the health and wellness of your eyes. Whether or not you have a family history of eye diseases, getting regular checkups is important. The sooner any potential condition is discovered, the more effective the treatment can be. Have your eyes (and those of your children) checked more often if you have a family history of any eye diseases or other chronic disease (such as diabetes) that can put you at a greater risk of eye disease.
- Overall health
There are countless threats to your eyes out there, including (but not limited to) digital eye strain, sun damage, allergies, and physical injuries. It’s important to have the state of your eyes evaluated regularly to make sure that you minimize harm and learn how to address recurring problems. An eye exam can also discover other serious health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or even cancer. A regular visit to the optometrist will ensure that you address any serious problems early, eliminate future threats, and treat your eyes as well as they deserve.
Life can be busy, but you can never be too busy to take care of your eyes. Book an appointment with your Valley Eyecare doctor today. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule your next appointment online.
