The importance of annual eye exams goes well beyond just making sure your vision isn’t blurry.
There’s a popular saying that “Eyes are a window to the body” which is true.
Here are five reasons why eye exams are important — and why you should have annual eye exams to safeguard your health and wellness.
1. Eye exams help children succeed in school.
OK, this one is for you parents. Did you know that 80 percent of what children are expected to learn in and outside the classroom requires good vision? It’s true — and that statistic, which has been around for a long time, probably should be revised upward because of the ever-increasing amount of screen time kids are exposed to these days.
An annual eye exam is the only way to ensure your child is seeing clearly and comfortably to succeed in the classroom. It’s also the only way to know for sure if kids are seeing their best for sports and other activities, too.
2. Myopia is becoming an epidemic.
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After a comprehensive exam, your eye doctor will discuss the findings and offer treatment options best suited to your needs.
The number of children who are developing myopia (nearsightedness) is growing faster than ever. And more kids are getting nearsighted at a very early age.
Why is this a big concern?
Children who become nearsighted very early in life tend to experience a worsening and progression of nearsightedness that continues throughout childhood — and this puts them at a significantly greater risk of very serious and potentially sight-threatening eye conditions later in life, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment.
Scheduling annual eye exams is the best way to assess your child’s risk of myopia. When detected early, myopia control measures can be taken to slow the progression of myopia and reduce your child’s risk of serious eye problems later in life.
FIND A DOCTOR: If you haven’t had your eyes examined recently, schedule a visit with an eye doctor with us.
3. Vision screenings are no substitute for an eye exam.
Too often, parents are led to believe their child is seeing perfectly well because she passed a school vision screening. Or adults think they see perfectly because they pass a vision screening at the motor vehicle department. Frequently, neither of these assumptions are correct.
Vision screenings are just that — they screen out individuals who have serious (and usually quite obvious) vision problems. Screenings can identify apparent problems a person might have with specific visual tasks, such as seeing a chalkboard clearly in the classroom or recognizing road signs and other objects from behind the wheel.
Only a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist can ensure your vision is as clear and comfortable as possible — and that you’re free from potentially serious eye diseases that don’t have obvious early symptoms, including glaucoma and even eye cancer.