You always hear your doctors recommend that you schedule your regular eye exam… but why is that? Do eye exams really make much of a difference?

We’d answer that question with a resounding “yes!” And we’re not just saying that because we love to see our patients. The Vistar Eye Center team can’t stress the importance of eye exams enough. In this article, we break down all the ways an eye exam can help you!

Why are eye exams important?

Comprehensive dilated eye exams help to ensure that you are seeing clearly and are in good health. Your ocular health can provide your optometrist or ophthalmologist with insight into your overall health and wellness. The tests conducted during these exams can allow your eye doctor to spot signs of general health conditions. By scheduling your regular eye exams, you can make sure that you’re getting the proper care that you need.

When you go in for your eye exam, your doctor will check for any warning signs of eye diseases and they can determine if you are at risk for any complications down the road. Certain eye diseases have no symptoms in the beginning, and they can go unnoticed for quite some time. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is necessary to detect ocular diseases. It’s vital to catch them in the early stages because that gives us a better chance of saving your vision. Together, we could protect your sight. The key is to be proactive.

If you are experiencing any abnormal signs or symptoms, visit your eye doctor as soon as you can. Some of these signs might include:

  • Draining or redness of the eye
  • Itchy, dry eyes
  • Eye pain
  • Double vision, blurry vision, or trouble reading
  • Seeing spots, flashes of light, or floaters (tiny specks that appear to float before your eyes)
  • Halos or circles around lights
  • Flashes of light

While they may not seem alarming, they could be indicative of an infection or disease. So please don’t wait until your next visit.

Also, some folks with high-risk factors need to visit their eye doctor more often than others. This includes individuals who:

  • Have habits that could affect their vision (i.e. smoking)
  • Have conditions or a predisposition to certain health problems (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, or retinal degeneration)
  • Are over the age of 50

As everyone is different, you should speak with your doctor to figure out how often you should schedule your exams

Your vision has a valuable role in your overall well-being; your life. In fact, there is a direct correlation between your eyesight and memory, according to experts. Because of this, we ask that you try your best to stay on top of your eye exams, so you can clearly see and remember those special moments. You can change your life!

Why Choose Vistar?

At Vistar Eye Center, our number one focus is to help provide life-changing outcomes. We always strive to ensure patients have access to the best care possible. That entails working to build a close relationship with everybody who visits our offices, starting from when they first contact us.

Our team here at Vistar wants you to feel like you are comfortable enough to ask us anything. We never judge, and it is truly always a pleasure assisting our patients! Our staff and doctors will take time to make sure you understand anything discussed and address any concerns. As your partners in eye care, we want to make you feel empowered and able to reach your goals. We can offer treatment and guidance tailored to serve your unique condition.

What to Expect from an Eye Exam at Vistar Eye Center

When you come to any of the Vistar Eye Center facilities for an eye exam, you can expect to be treated with kindness and the utmost respect. We want to provide stellar service all throughout your visit so our team members will be thorough.

Our team will begin by asking you various questions about your personal and family health history. Some eye diseases are hereditary but can also develop due to environmental or lifestyle factors. Once we learn more about you, we will move on to the tests. This may sound intimidating, but know that we will explain each test before we start each one.

Your doctor will check your visual acuity (sharpness), depth perception, eye alignment, and eye movement. To assess the current condition of your eyes, they will use a variety of stimuli such as lights and objects. You may actually already be familiar with the visual acuity test. During this test, your doctor will have you read letters off of an eye exam chart filled with rows of letters that progressively decrease in size. This will help show your doctor the sharpness of your vision. Your doctor will also put eye drops in your eyes to dilate them, or make your pupils larger so they can see inside. By doing so, they can spot signs of health problems more easily. Your eyes may feel sensitive and you may experience blurred vision, so we will do everything we can to keep you comfortable throughout your appointment. The effects last for four to six hours for most people, but this varies from patient to patient. You may want to bring a trusted friend or family member to drive you home afterward.

Schedule Your Eye Exam Today

Remember: good health starts with you! If you haven’t yet scheduled your next eye exam, take care of that now. We want you to live your best life. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones.