Various surveys worldwide have shown that the uptake for eye exams is pretty low. For instance, one UK survey showed that 1 in 10 adults had never attended an eye exam and another quarter of the population surveyed said they were currently overdue for their next exam.
Why are people so hesitant to get an eye exam? From our experience at our eye clinic in Dubai, some people wrongly assume they don’t need an eye test as they don’t have any noticeable problems with their vision. Others are nervous about the eye exam experience or the equipment that might be used. And still others are busy and just let an eye exam fall to the bottom of the to-do list.
Eye exams are absolutely vital. If you are here reading this, perhaps you are considering getting an eye test in the near future. Here, we explain why it’s a good move to book your appointment soon, and what to expect on the day of the eye exam.
3 reasons to book an eye exam
Here are just three of the reasons why eye exams are important.
1. Eye exams can help with early diagnosis of vision problems.
The expertise of an ophthalmologist and sophisticated equipment and technology can help detect many vision problems before they cause any irritation or issues for the patient. It’s crucial to catch eye health problems early. Often, eye doctors can take steps to prevent further deterioration and vision loss if the problem is identified at an early stage.
Therefore, getting an annual eye examination is optimal to protect your sight and eye health for the long term. Regular eye checks also make sure you are able to do everyday activities like driving and using a computer, safely and without discomfort.
2. Eye health checks can reveal other health problems, too.
As above, getting an eye test is good preventative healthcare, but not just for your eyes. Eye health checks can reveal the first signs of general health problems, including some common issues like diabetes and high blood pressure through to rarer problems like some cancers. Your eye exam has an important role in taking care of yourself and your overall health. If your ophthalmologist identifies any warning signs of general health problems, they will advise you to seek advice from your family doctor.
3. Eye health can deteriorate quickly.
Your eyes will change over your lifetime and some problems can emerge quickly between annual eye exams. Ageing is a common cause of eyesight deterioration that can begin around or after the age of 40. Presbyopia and cataracts are two of the most common age-related eye problems. Your ophthalmologist can treat and alleviate symptoms for both.
For children, it is also particularly important to see an eye doctor once a year. We recommend that your child get their first eye exam before they start school to check if their eyes are developing normally, and then pay a visit every year. The common eye problem myopia (shortsightedness) typically appears amongst children of school age and progresses through to the teenage years. It can be spotted early at an annual eye exam and treatments can help slow its progress.
What will your doctor do during an eye exam?
It’s quite normal to feel a little apprehensive about an unfamiliar doctor checking your eyes and the equipment they use. The following information sets out what to expect at an eye exam to set your mind at ease.
At the clinic, your eye doctor will complete most or perhaps all of the steps below. The portfolio of tests they run will depend on a few factors, such as your age and health history.
1. Take your medical history
Your ophthalmologist needs to have a full picture of any eye or general health problems affecting you. This will ensure that they run all the necessary tests and provide personalised eye care advice. Some of your family medical history will also be taken. This will identify any conditions you may be at elevated risk of and help make sure you are tested appropriately.
2. Ask you to read letters on a chart
Most people are familiar with this aspect of an eye examination. It involves reading aloud lines of letters in gradually smaller sizes printed onto a chart called the Snellen Eye Chart. The official name for this part of the exam is a ‘visual acuity test’ and it measures the sharpness of your sight.
You may also be asked to read the letters through different lenses to help determine if you need glasses and what prescription is required. For young children not yet able to read, your eye doctor will be able to provide an accessible alternative.
3. Check your colour vision
Colour vision loss can indicate eye health problems, so your eye doctor will check if you are able to see colour well. This will involve detecting and looking at coloured dots with numbers.
4. Conduct a visual field check
Your eye doctor will look for signs of problems in your peripheral vision and for the presence of blind spots. They may use their finger for this check, moving it side to side and up to down. It is also common to use a computer program for this part of the eye examination, too.
5. Complete the puff of air test
By blowing a tiny puff of air into your eye from a device called a tonometer, your eye doctor can check for signs of high pressure in your eye. The device takes a measurement of the pressure required to flatten a part of the cornea and can help identify signs of glaucoma. Although it is an odd feeling, it is not painful.
6. Do a slit lamp examination
This involves taking a really close look at your eyes through a special microscope called a slit lamp. Your eye doctor will carefully examine the exterior of your eye and then use an additional microscope to check the internal structure of your eye, including the retina and optic nerve.
The slit lamp exam is used to look for various conditions, diseases and signs of ageing, including cataracts and corneal ulcers.
7. Dilate your pupils
If your medical history suggests you may be at risk of certain eye diseases, your eye doctor will want to check the internal parts of your eye even more thoroughly. Dilating your pupils using special eye drops simply makes it easier for them to check for signs and symptoms of various conditions.
Schedule your eye exam
An eye exam is so important for the health of your eyes and your overall health. The description of an eye exam above demonstrates many of the conditions and diseases your eye doctor is looking for, and that it is a simple procedure. This year, make an eye exam a healthcare resolution you stick to.
