Many people have been to the eye doctor and have gotten a basic or comprehensive eye exam, but what are they checking for? There are a number of machines they use, some with light, puffs of air and the chart test to see how good your vision is. Most people get an exam for a prescription for their contact lenses and or their glasses. However, there is much more going on than determining your new prescription. Eyewear Candy Optical RX would like to share what is going on during a comprehensive eye exam.

Eye Disease Prevention

When getting an eye exam, you’re not just there for a prescription. A lot of the tests that measure the eye, its shape, and tests the eye pressure are preventative measures. The majority of eye conditions can be prevented or slowed down if diagnosed early enough. Even if you think your eye prescription hasn’t changed, you should get an eye exam to constantly monitor your eye health. It is recommended that you have an exam at least once a year to watch and monitor your eyes.

Check Eye Shape

When having an eye exam, one step the optometrist will do is check your eye’s shape. The optometrist uses a slit lamp to check the shape of the eyes. Eye shape often changes throughout a person’s life. Some changes can lead to vision disorders such as:
• Nearsightedness – This is a condition when you can see up close but cannot see far away. About 25% of the population has nearsightedness or also known as myopia and is corrected with a prescription.
• Farsightedness – This is a where you cannot see things up close but can see far away without difficulty. Farsightedness or Hyperopia is another common vision disorder that can be corrected with prescription contact lenses or glasses.
• Astigmatism – This is another vision disorder that is caused by an irregular shaped eye or more specifically, the curve of the cornea. Vision can be impaired differently for and require further testing and often multiple lens strengths.

Test for Eye Disease

Some of the other tests the optometrist performs is also checking for eye disease. There are hundreds of eye diseases. Your standard eye exam checks for some of the most common types. Some of the common types of eye disease that are check during your comprehensive eye exam are:
• Diabetes or Diabetic Eye Exam – When you have or are prone to having diabetes, the eyes are especially vulnerable. When the optometrist uses a specialized eye drop to dilate your pupils, this allows them to see the eye structure and check for early stages of diabetic retinopathy.
• Glaucoma – Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve. The eye develops high pressure which leads to the optic nerve damage. Glaucoma is checked by measuring the eye pressure.
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – AMD is another eye disease that needs to be constantly checked. With an early diagnosis, the vision loss caused by AAMD can be slowed or prevented.
• Cataracts – Cataracts is another common eye disease that causes blurring and loss of clarity in our optic lenses. Most people will develop cataract problems and is corrected with corrective eyewear and or cataract surgery.

Eye Exams, Eyeglasses, Sunglasses & More in Delray Beach, FL (Just Minutes Away from Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Kings Point, Golf & Boynton Beach, Florida)

You of course will also have your vision tested and get a new prescription for your contact lenses or glasses. However, you can see there is a lot more to a basic eye exam. It is important to have a yearly eye exam to monitor your eye’s health. If you need an eye exam, contact Eyewear Candy Optical RX and make an appointment today.