Six Things You Shouldn't Assume When You Get An Eye Exam Done
Patients who go in for an eye exam should be properly informed about eye exam procedures and eye health. Unfortunately, patients sometimes make assumptions that they shouldn't when they get an eye exam done. The following are six things you shouldn't assume when you get an eye exam done.
You don't really need to have glasses if your eye exam detects only a very slight vision problem.
You don't need to have a very significant vision problem to benefit from having glasses or contacts. Even if you feel confident that your vision is strong enough to get by comfortably, you still might notice huge improvements at work and in your personal life if you get your vision corrected with prescription lenses.
Eye exams are only about vision.
While detecting vision problems is a primary focus of eye exams, it is not the only purpose of these exams. Eye exams also detect health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure or quality of life issues, such as excessive eye dryness.
Any problem that your eye exam detects is a result of poor habits.
If a vision problem comes up at your eye exam, it doesn't usually mean that you've done something wrong, such as not eating a healthy diet or having bad habits like reading in low-light situations. Most vision problems are caused by simple genetics and have little or nothing to do with your nutrition and eye care habits.
Any problem that your eye exam detects will get worse over time.
While a vision problem may get worse over time, this is not always the case. Your vision may stay the same over time. In some patients, certain vision problems can even become less pronounced over time as the lenses of a patient's eye adjust with age.
Your only solutions for vision problems are glasses or contacts.
If you don't want to have to wear glasses or contacts, you may have another option available to achieve perfect vision. Surgical solutions to vision problems are increasingly popular and allow a patient to enjoy perfect vision without having to wear glasses or contacts.
You won't need an eye exam again for a long time.
The frequency with which you should schedule eye exams depends on your age. The older you are, the more frequently you'll want to schedule eye exams.
If you are between 20 and 39 years old, you won't need to schedule another eye exam for five years. However, you shouldn't wait more than a year or two to have another eye exam done if you are over 65.
Contact a local optometrist's office to learn more about eye exams.