Source: Flickr Photographer: H. Michael Karshis

What to expect in a good eye exam?

Every year you are encouraged to go get your eyes checked.

You may wonder why, since you may be seeing “just fine” out of your eyeglasses or contacts. But good vision isn’t the only reason you should make an appointment to see your local optometrist.

Besides the fact that your vision can slowly decline (so what you think is good isn’t really all that good), the biggest motivation to go to that annual eye exam is your eye health. Just the way you get a physical every year by your primary physician (or you should anyway), you should get your eye health checked.

Before testing your eyes, it’s important to voice any concerns to your doctor. Whether it’s a silly question (and trust us, there’s no such thing as silly questions when it comes to your health), a symptom, or some developed family history, you should make your eye doctor aware of any new symptoms, questions or concerns you may had since your last visit.

You should also include details about your lifestyle. Do you spend an extended amount of time in front of a computer screen? Are you out in the sun most of the day? These are important things to mention to your optometrist so he or she is better able to serve you.

The Eye Exam

After discussing these things, your eye doctor should examine you for diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma (a few of the most common eye diseases). During the examination, your doctor will also look for any  clues that there may be further underlying health issues that you should know about, such as high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, or even diabetes.  Cancer, as scary as it sounds, is also another thing your optometrist will check your eyes for.

Of course, as a part of this exam, you will also be checked for any changes in your vision.

Vision is a tricky thing, slight changes occur all the time that aren’t exactly noticeable, so it’s a good idea to stay on top of it, to keep any really severe problems from occurring later.

Schedule an appointment at your local America’s Best store today!