If you feel like your vision is fine, it’s easy to put off scheduling a comprehensive eye exam. Getting an eye exam is about more than your vision, though! Comprehensive eye exams are an important part of your overall healthcare and wellness.
If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, we’ll share the top 5 reasons you should schedule an eye exam today!
Eye Exams Can Detect Underlying Health Issues
The first reason you should schedule an eye exam is that your eye doctor can spot signs of trouble happening elsewhere in your body during an eye exam.
Did you know the only place in your body where blood vessels can be seen directly is in your retina?
When your eye doctor examines your retina, the light-sensitive layer in the back of your eye, they can examine your blood vessels and spot early signs of underlying health issues of which you may not be aware, such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Prevent Damage from Serious Eye Diseases
The second reason to get regular eye exams is to prevent damage from eye disease.
There are some sight-threatening eye diseases that have little to no symptoms in the early stages, and the only way to know you have them is by getting an eye exam.
- Glaucoma is a disease that is characterized by a lack of symptoms in the early stages. It is called the “sneak thief of sight” for this reason because many people in the early stages don’t realize they have it.
- Diabetic eye disease can cause vision loss in diabetics, and there may be mild or no symptoms in the early stages.
- Macular degeneration is another serious eye disease without symptoms in the early stages and progresses gradually, so by the time you notice vision loss, the disease is in an advanced stage, and there currently is no cure for it.
The best way to prevent vision loss from eye diseases is to get regular eye exams where they can be diagnosed and treated.
Your Vision May Be Changing
It may seem like your vision is fine, but your brain accommodates changes in vision without you even fully realizing it. Small changes in your vision can affect how you feel every day while driving, working, and engaging in other activities. Being able to see your best is an important part of living a high-quality life!
You May Have Digital Eye Strain
If you spend most days in front of a computer for work, you may be feeling some digital eye strain.
The high visual demands of looking at screens of various sizes throughout the day can cause headaches, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, eye strain, and dry eyes. Symptoms can be worsened by improper viewing distance from the computer, poor lighting, and uncorrected vision problems.
Getting an eye exam will diagnose any vision problem and you may also need eyeglasses with special lenses to alleviate digital eye strain.
You Need an Updated Prescription for Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses
If you currently wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to see, then you need regular eye exams to assess your vision and to get an updated prescription. Your vision can change frequently, so even if you feel your vision is fine, you may be surprised to learn during an eye exam that it can be better with a change in the prescription!
Schedule an Eye Exam at Integrity Eye Care
Dr. Joshua Garret and the staff at Integrity Eye Care in Murfreesboro are passionate about providing personalized eye health and vision care for every member of the family. If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, make your health and wellness a priority and schedule your exam today!