Eye exams are a critical piece of ocular and overall health maintenance for people of all ages, including children. The team at Vista Eye Specialists believes that no matter how old you are, you should see an ophthalmologist or optometrist regularly to check for any problems with your eyes or vision.
Here’s why:
Clear Vision Is Essential to a Child’s Learning and Development
Clear vision and eye health play an essential role in learning and development. If a child cannot see their work or their teacher clearly, they may struggle with school. It is crucial to catch and manage children’s vision problems (e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, problems with the way the eyes work together) as early as possible. Staying on top of these problems can help children succeed academically.
It is easy to confuse an eye exam with a vision screening, which is a basic test that indicates whether the child has difficulty seeing clearly. However, vision screenings are not as comprehensive as eye exams, and they may be performed by anyone (not necessarily a doctor). An exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist examines the eyes in great detail, and can detect problems that a basic screening is likely to miss.
Although many parents like to schedule their children’s eye exams in the fall to coincide with going back to school, eye exams can be scheduled at any point throughout the year.
Some Diseases Are “Silent”
It is very important to have eye exams, particularly as you get older, because some age-related eye diseases do not cause any noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Unless you see an eye doctor regularly for an exam and testing, you could have a problem that goes unnoticed and slowly robs you of clear, sharp vision.
A good example is glaucoma, which was discussed in our last blog post. Nicknamed “The Silent Thief of Sight,” glaucoma often causes no discernable symptoms until the late stages, when it is more difficult to manage. However, catching and treating glaucoma early offers the best chances for stopping vision loss and preventing blindness.
The Eyes Are a Window to Your Health
Another reason why regular eye exams are important is that your eyes provide clues about your overall health. Sometimes, an exam can reveal signs of a previously undetected systemic health problem.
For example, eye doctors can detect early signs of diabetes by looking at the health and condition of the tiny blood vessels in the retina during an exam. And, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye exams could someday help to detect people with Alzheimer’s before they show any symptoms.
Contact Our Team Today
If you would like to book an eye exam for you or your child, please call 1-888-EYE-JANI (393-5264) or email Vista Eye Specialists today.
