Why Routine Eye Exams Are Important

Why Routine Eye Exams Are Important
Posted on 09/03/2018
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If you’ve never experienced eye issues or needed glasses, it’s easy to take your vision for granted. Scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam with a trusted ophthalmologist is an important part of keeping your eyes healthy and detecting any problems in the early stages to begin immediate treatment.

Vision Screening vs. Eye Exam

A vision screening is a series of quick tests performed to check for vision problems or abnormal visual acuity. Often performed by a nurse or other staff member in our Latham and Clifton Park, NY offices, the issues identified here can indicate that an eye exam is needed.

An eye examination is performed by a doctor and is a much more in-depth process. It includes tests that evaluate whether you are farsighted, nearsighted, or have astigmatism. Each eye is individually examined for signs of serious issues including cataracts, detached retinas, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. Other conditions that can be detected include:

  • Strabismus: During an eye exam, the doctor checks eye alignment to ensure the eyes work together. If they do not, there may be issues with depth perception which, if untreated, can lead to amblyopia.
  • Amblyopia: Misalignment of the eyes or significantly different prescriptions can cause your brain to shut off images from one eye. If left untreated, the stunted visual development can result in permanent visual impairment.
  • Cataracts: These occur when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy. Symptoms include blurry vision, light sensitivity, and difficulty seeing well at night. Our doctors can perform surgery to correct the issue; cataracts are simple to treat when caught early.

Eye Exams in Clifton Park, NY

They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but they are also the window into many aspects of our health. Visit our Latham office for routine eye screenings as well as comprehensive annual eye exams to help keep you healthy and happy. Contact us for an appointment!