The Importance of Eye Examinations

Have you ever had trouble reading a book? Or seeing road signs at night? Have your eyes ever been too dry, itchy or painful? Then you’ve experienced how important vision is and how quickly problems seeing can interfere with life.

Eyesight plays a crucial role in our overall wellbeing, and routine eye care plays a significant role in achieving that end. While most people take vision for granted, regular optometrist or ophthalmologist exams are crucial for preserving eye health. They also detect serious issues early to ensure your vision remains sharp for your entire life.

Below are eight key reasons why people, young and old, should have frequent eye exams. Remember, the older you get, the more important eye check-ups become.

1.    Vision correction and prescription updates ­– People’s vision quality generally deteriorates over time. Fortunately, regular eye exams help optometrists evaluate changes in your vision and update your eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions as needed. Vision changes can creep up on you. Without timely adjustments, you may experience eye strain, headaches and blurry vision. If you’ve noticed these symptoms, make an eye exam appointment as soon as possible.
 
 

2.    Eye disease detection ­– Eye doctors look for symptoms of diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Detecting these conditions early increases the likelihood that your eye doctor can treat them effectively with drugs or surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, for instance, will likely prevent further erosion of your eyesight that could lead to permanent blindness.
 
 

3.    Monitoring eye health ­– Eye exams let vision professionals monitor the overall health of your eyes. They look for signs of diseases beyond vision-related problems. This involves assessing your retina, optic nerve and blood vessels. These anatomical elements can show signs of severe underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer.
 
 

4.    Pediatric eye care­ – Adults aren’t the only people who need regular eye care. Children should undergo routine check-ups to ensure their eyes are developing correctly and they aren’t having vision issues. Eye doctors can successfully treat pediatric conditions — like amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes) — when they intervene early before vision becomes seriously impaired. 
 
 

5.    Digital eye strain assessment­ – Do you spend a lot of time looking at computer screens? Nowadays, most people do. One of the side effects of frequent digital screen use is eye strain. This produces symptoms like dry eyes, eye fatigue and headaches. These symptoms are not only annoying, but they also can reduce your work productivity. Fortunately, eye professionals can identify the reason behind your eyestrain and offer helpful treatments.
 
 

6.    Contact lens evaluation and fit – Routine eye exams are even more important if you wear contact lenses. This allows your eye doctor to evaluate their fit and ensure they aren’t producing eye damage or discomfort. Ill-fitting contacts can lead to eye infections, corneal scratches and other issues. So frequent check-ups are an important way to assure safe and comfortable contact use.
 
 

7.    Eye safety and occupational hazards – If you work in a factory, nature or other potentially dangerous settings, your eyes may be at risk. Flying debris or chemicals might scratch or inflame the surface of your eyes. To prevent serious injury, be sure to consult with an eye professional regularly. This person can advise you on the best protective gear to wear and can treat injuries promptly when they occur. 
 
 

8.    Age-related vision changes – As people age, their eyes naturally evolve. This makes routine eye exams even more essential. Conditions such as presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects), dry eyes and increased risk of eye diseases become more prevalent over time. Regular eye doctor visits help monitor and manage such changes as needed to assure quality vision for many years.

In short, by making and keeping your eye doctor appointments, you and your family can protect your eye health, detect and treat potential problems and maintain optimal sight for your entire life. These exams provide vision correction and play a vital role in identifying systemic diseases and providing effective treatments. 

If you take anything away from this article, let it be this: Don't take your eyesight for granted! Schedule regular eye exams to ensure you see the world clearly and enjoy all your daily life activities.

The Healthy Vision Association is dedicated to improving vision health by providing access to unique vision and overall health products, services and information. To view your HVA member benefits, visit healthyvisionassociation.com.