Why get annual eye check ups?

Your annual eye exam conducted by a Doctor of Optometry is an important part of your health regimen for many reasons. The annual eye exam will look at your entire eye and visual system, which is often compared to a physical for your eye because of the exam’s thoroughness.

The comprehensive eye health exam will determine your overall eye health, look for any signs of ocular diseases, provide a prescription for eyewear, and offer visual solution recommendations with education for you to make an informed decision. An eye health exam can even look for signs of other health issues that can show up through your eye such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, your eye health exam is a critical part of your health routine and it is often recommended to check your eyes every year. Those with diabetes are at risk of diabetic retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels at the back of your eye in your retina). It is especially important when you are newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes to schedule an eye health exam to determine if there are any existing problems or damage to the retina. Your eye doctor will use a dilated fundus exam to detect any impairment to the retina.  

Common eye diseases and disorders your eye doctor examines for includes: glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments and macular degeneration. These eye diseases can easily be detected with a routine eye exam, but without proper detection and treatment can lead to blindness if not treated early enough. 

Your annual eye exam at our vision centres will often include (but not limited to) the following type of comprehensive testing: 

• Review of your eye history, any existing vision or medical issues from your family history. 
• Testing and measurement of the clarity of your vision at different distances, with and without corrective lenses. 
• Measurement of the focusing power of your eyes.
• Assessment of your eye coordination and how you use both eyes together. 
• Assessment of your depth perception and eye movements.
• Assessment of your colour vision.
• Detailed examination of the health of your eyes both inside and outside.
• Examination of your visual system by reviewing how your pupil reacts (dilates or contracts), ocular motility (how well the muscles in your eye are moving), and peripheral vision. 
• Glaucoma screening, where the inside of your eye is tested for pressure and other items. 
• And depending on how results from these various tests come back, your eye doctor will determine if any follow-up tests will be needed. 

All this information from your comprehensive eye exam is then analyzed by your optometrist to determine your prescription and create a tailored eye care program and visual solution recommendations for your specific needs. To learn more about our comprehensive eye health examinations, please visit here: https://www.eyetrusteyecare.ca/eyetrust-visual-analysis/

Source: Canadian Association of Optometrists