'Tis the season to spend your FSA $
Now’s the perfect time to book an eye exam, shop for new glasses, or stock up on contact lenses.
Eye exams are important for everyone — not just people who wear glasses. Here are 4 reasons to schedule an annual exam even if you have 20/20 vision.
Scheduling regular eye exams might not be at the top of your to-do list, especially if you don’t already wear glasses or contacts. But delaying your routine visit puts your eyes and your overall health at risk. That’s because getting a new prescription is just one reason to see your eye doctor. Here’s what you miss when you skip an annual eye checkup.
Eye checkups are an essential part of your health care routine. Find an exam time that fits your schedule!
1. A Snapshot of Your Overall Health
During an eye exam, your doctor has a clear view inside the eye. The small blood vessels and delicate structures located there are often the first ones affected by diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Eye doctors are trained to look for abnormalities and know the proper referrals to make when they spot them.
Recommended reading: 4 Things Your Optometrist Needs to Know About Your Health
2. The Chance to Spot Eye Conditions Before They Become Serious
Many eye diseases in the early stages don’t cause any symptoms and can only be detected with an eye exam. That includes some of the most common causes of vision loss.
This includes:
Research shows that one in four patients with no symptoms are diagnosed with eye conditions as the result of an eye exam. Early detection is key to saving your eyesight.
3. Vision-Saving Knowledge
Educating patients is a big part of what we do at America’s Best. You might learn why wearing sunglasses year-round is so important or how to prevent eye strain with a few simple tricks. Your eye doctor can also alert you to vision changes you might expect as you age.
4. Sharper Vision
One final reason to make that appointment: the chance to see things much clearer. We all become comfortable with the way we see things — so comfortable that we may not even realize that a road sign is a bit fuzzy or that a room is brighter than it seems. That’s the problem. Uncorrected vision problems can have serious implications.
If you’re an older adult, poor vision can increase the risk of falls. And among children, hidden vision problems can put them at risk for learning deficits. In other words, seeing well doesn’t necessarily mean all is well with your eyes.
So go ahead and make that call for your eye appointment. You’ll be glad you did.
Recommended reading:
How to Spot Vision Problems in Children Who Are Learning to Read
The #1 Fall Prevention Strategy for Seniors: Get an Eye Exam