Many people think they only need to schedule an appointment with their optometrist when they are having problems with their eyes. This is not the case. If you want to make sure your eyes are as healthy as they can be, annual eye exams are recommended. Here are a few reasons annual eye exams are a good idea.
Vision Changes Occur Gradually
In most cases, vision changes occur so slowly that you might not even realize that your vision has changed until you get your eyes examined. When you see your optometrist every year, your vision will be checked to determine if it has changed. If necessary, you will get a new prescription.
Many Eye Diseases Show No Noticeable Early Symptoms
Several eye diseases can cause permanent vision loss if not caught early. Macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy name just a few. These diseases often show no symptoms you would recognize until vision loss has occurred. Our optometrist has the proper knowledge and experience to spot these symptoms. When these conditions are caught early, we can treat them before they become an issue.
New Eyeglasses and Contacts
Your eyeglass prescription expires every 12 months. If you lose your glasses and you haven’t seen your optometrist in years, you won’t be able to get a new pair of glasses with your expired prescription. If you have an eye exam every year, you will always have a valid prescription on file and can get new glasses whenever you need them. The same applies for contact lens prescriptions.
Health Conditions Can Be Caught During an Eye Exam
Diseases of the eye aren’t the only conditions that can be detected during an eye exam. There are also health conditions that can be identified by your optometrist before your primary care physician diagnoses them. High blood pressure, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors can all be caught during your annual eye exam. Because these are all very serious medical conditions, you must schedule regular eye care appointments.