Once the eyes have been damaged, reversing the damage ranges from difficult to impossible. However, it is never too late to stop a habit that may be damaging. It is important to know where our eye health stands so that we can adjust accordingly, and preventative eye exams are how we do that. At Des Plaines Eye Care Center, we have years of experience conducting preventative eye exams to identify and address conditions that can lead to permanent eye damage.
What is an Eye Exam?
An eye exam is more than just a vision screening. A screening is a snapshot of a person’s vision at a specific moment. Vision screening results can indicate problems are present, but a vision screening is not a thorough enough test to identify exactly what the problems are.
A full eye exam is much more detailed and factors in more than just the immediate vision. Our optometrist will generally begin by discussing your overall medical history as well as any changes in your eye health you may have noticed. Since vision can be affected by many factors, including the side effects of medication, we make an effort to assess how the eyes should be working versus how they are.
The eye itself will be physically examined by our optometrist, right down to each component (such as iris, pupil, lids, and lashes). Your eye’s internal pressure will be checked to screen for glaucoma. Refractive testing will be done to determine the sharpness of both near and distant vision. A visual field test will be executed to determine your visual field.
What Can an Eye Exam Prevent?
The most common example of problems caused by neglected eye healthcare is what happens when putting off getting reading glasses. As eyes continue to weaken, the strain caused by compensating for the loss of vision speeds up the loss of vision. This leads to people needing stronger glasses sooner, rather than later, and that could have been prevented with an eye exam. Other conditions often detected during preventative eye exams include:
- Dry eye
- Macular degeneration
- Various ocular diseases
- Diabetic eye disease
Optometrist in Des Plaines, IL
After evaluating your eyes, our optometrist will provide you with the necessary services to achieve and maintain optimal eye health. For more information on our eye care services or to schedule an eye exam, contact Des Planes Eye Care Center today.