August Is Healthy Vision Month!
August is healthy vision month! It’s the perfect time to stop and ask yourself, “When was the last time I had an eye exam?”If it’s been a while, give us a call.
Who Needs Routine Eye Exams?
The short answer is everyone! Whether you’re young or old, whether you have prescription lenses or not… Everyone should have their eyes examined regularly—every one to two years.
More frequent appointments are necessary, if:
- you’re over 60 (yearly)
- you have corrective lenses (yearly)
- you have an existing eye condition that should be monitored (according to an eye professional’s recommendations)
Important Ages To Get An Eye Checkup
If you aren’t able to have an eye exam as often as you would like, at least make it a priority at these important ages:
- 6 months old
- 3 years old
- 6 years old (right before starting kindergarten)
- 40 years old when many eye concerns start to develop
Why Are Eye Exams Important?
Eye exams are important for everyone to assure your eyes remain healthy. Remember, you cannot see well for your entire lifetime without healthy eyes! Some eye conditions, like glaucoma and macular degeneration can cause significant damage to your eyes before you may notice changes in your vision. Children need good vision for good performance in school! Eye examinations are an important part of health maintenance for everyone regardless of their age. During a comprehensive eye exam, Dr. McElroy & Dr. Nguyen do much more than just determine your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. They will also check your eyes for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together as a team and evaluate your eyes as an indicator of your overall health.
What Is The Difference Between A Vision Screening And A Comprehensive Eye Exam?
Vision screenings are limited eye tests that help identify people who are at risk for vision problems.
A comprehensive eye examination is performed by an eye doctor and includes careful testing of all aspects of your vision. Based on the results of your exam, your eye doctor will then recommend a treatment plan for your individual needs. Remember, only an optometrist or ophthalmologist can provide a comprehensive eye exam — family physicians and pediatricians are not fully trained to do this, and studies have shown that they can miss important vision problems that require treatment.
Together, We Keep Your Eyes Healthy
We’re so grateful to be your trusted vision care provider. Let us know if there’s ever anything that we can do to serve you or your family. And, do you have friends who could benefit from knowing how to better care for their eyes? Share this blog post with them!