If you have never had vision problems, likely, you might not have gone for an eye exam before. Some people are under the misconception that eye exams are performed only on people who already present eye or vision issues.
Eye Exams: When to Have Them and What to Expect From Them | Eye Doctor in Hartford, CT
If you have never had vision problems, likely, you might not have gone for an eye exam before. Some people are under the misconception that eye exams are performed only on people who already present eye or vision issues. However, it is essential to undergo regular eye exams to evaluate the state of your sight and identify possible symptoms of other health conditions. These evaluations provide you with the best opportunity to correct problems in time or prevent eye or health diseases from worsening. So, when should you have an eye exam? And, what should you expect when you get it? This blog will answer these questions and give you the contact information of an excellent eye doctor in Hartford, CT.
What Is an Eye Exam?
Eye exams are a sequence of various tests that help evaluate your vision and check for symptoms of any eye diseases. Each involves a distinct process, as they all assess different aspects of your vision. Together, they can give an accurate result of your overall eye health. Undergoing comprehensive eye exams every so often is necessary to ensure any possible problems are treated at their earliest stage. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, they can also help you correct or adapt to vision changes and allow your doctor to advise on how to care for your eyes.
When you go for an eye exam, your optometrist will thoroughly evaluate your eyes and all elements of your vision. Your eye doctor will next suggest a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Prescription glasses, eye exercises, eye drops or ointment, and, in severe cases, surgery are all options depending on your results.
What to Expect From an Eye Exam?
Depending on your age or unique needs, your eye exam may include one or more of the following tests :
Visual Acuity
This test evaluates how sharp your vision is. You will be asked to identify different letters on a chart that get progressively smaller to determine at which point you cannot read them anymore.
Refraction Test
This procedure is used to determine whether your eye has a refractive error and you require glasses or contact lenses. It aids in selecting the proper corrective lens prescription.
Eye Muscle Test
This test examines how effectively your eyes can track a moving object. Your eye doctor will move a light or a small pen in front of you to watch how your eyes follow it.
Glaucoma Screening
Your doctor will test the fluid pressure inside your eye to detect signs of glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve.
Slit-lamp Examination
A slit lamp is a microscope that uses an intense line of light to magnify and illuminate the front of your eye. The eyelids, lashes, cornea, iris, lens, and fluid chamber between your cornea and iris are all examined with this instrument.
Color Vision Testing
If you have trouble distinguishing colors, your eye doctor may run a test to see if you have a color deficiency. You will look at various multicolored dot-pattern figures to try and pick out specific numbers and shapes.
When to Have Eye Exams?
Your eye exams’ frequency depends on your age, health, genetic risks for eye diseases, and other factors.
- Children three years or younger usually have more frequent eye exams during their general check-ups to look for common childhood eye problems.
- Children over three years old should get their eyes checked before entering kindergarten. After that, their doctor can recommend how often they should have their following eye exams.
- Healthy adults without vision problems’ symptoms can usually go by with one eye exam every few years. They should have a complete eye exam at age 40 and once every year or two after turning 60 or older.
You should have your eyes evaluated more frequently if you wear glasses or contact lenses, have red eyes, dry eyes, have a family history of eye disease, or chronic conditions that put you at risk for eye disease, such as diabetes.
Eye Exam in Hartford, CT | Serenity I Care
Eye exams are a quick and easy process and an important part of keeping your general health in check. Ensuring that your eyes are healthy can save you from significant health issues down the line. If you want to get your eyes checked or look for eyeglasses in Hartford, CT, visit us at Serenity I Care. Dr. Barbara Dune, the practice owner, has 30 years of optometry experience and will provide you with excellent eye care and service in a friendly environment. We are passionate about giving our patients the knowledge to empower themselves to make the best possible decisions to ensure their long-term ocular health and vision. Schedule an appointment online or call (860) 263-8048 today!