Seeing clearly may be something many people take for granted, because if you can see well, it must mean your eyes are healthy, right? That may be true, but the only way to get a clear picture of your overall eye health is through a comprehensive eye exam.
The expert ophthalmologists and optometrists at Pacific Eye can help you stay on top of vision changes or eye conditions before they become something to worry about.
If it’s been a while since your last visit to the eye doctor, now is the best time to schedule your comprehensive eye exam at Pacific Eye. Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect during a comprehensive eye exam.
Vision testing and evaluation
You may not realize it, but your vision can change slowly over time. Subtle changes may mean you don’t even notice that you’re not seeing as clearly as you once did. We will evaluate your vision to see if you have any of the following conditions:
- Nearsightedness, which means it’s difficult seeing objects in the distance
- Farsightedness, which means it’s difficult seeing objects up close
- Astigmatism, which means there is an irregular shape in the cornea or lens
- Strabismus, which means the eyes don’t align correctly
- Amblyopia, which means the vision in one or both eyes didn’t develop properly
Your doctor will also evaluate how clearly you see, assess your peripheral vision, and evaluate how well your eyes track objects and move together. You can relax knowing that all these tests are painless and will help your doctor assess your vision and diagnose potential problems.
Eye disease testing
Some of the most common eye diseases and conditions don’t have any obvious early symptoms, which is why it’s important to schedule regular eye exams. Comprehensive eye exams will allow your ophthalmologist to monitor any changes and catch problems early, so you can receive effective treatment as soon as possible. Some of the eye diseases we test for during exams include:
- Cataracts, which involves clouding of the eye’s lens
- Glaucoma, which involves abnormal eye pressure that damages the optic nerve
- Macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of age-related blindness
- Retinopathy, which is retina damage from an injury or illness
- Retinal detachment, which is when the retina lifts away from the back of the eye
- Diabetic eye disease
Many of these conditions can be treated, and we can help delay their progression once you’re under the care of our expert eye doctors. But, you have to take the first step by scheduling an eye exam. You could have early warning signs of these eye diseases and not even realize it.
Serious health problems
Not only are your eyes windows to your soul, but they’re often an indicator of your overall health and wellness, too. By examining the blood vessels and nerves in your eyes, your eye doctor may be able to detect serious health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, neurological conditions, and even high cholesterol.
To learn more about the benefits of annual vision exams, book an appointment online or over the phone with Pacific Eye today.
