You’ve probably heard the saying that your eyes are the window to your soul. In optometry, the eyes are the portals that provide a glimpse into a person’s overall health. It’s true. Do you know that the eye is the only place in the body where we can see your blood vessels without obstruction from other tissue? This is why many diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, reveal the very first signs in the eyes, well before it causes changes to your vision.
Millions of people around the world deal with astigmatism, farsightedness (hyperopia), and nearsightedness (myopia). There are many other eye and vision disorders that can affect how well your eyes function to meet the demands of today’s visually challenging environment (such as lots of computer work!). A more in-depth exam is necessary to uncover hidden vision issues or to screen for more serious eye conditions that may benefit from early intervention.
Medical and family history will be checked, along with visual acuity, refraction, colour vision, cover test, and ocular motility. If you have a family history of eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, you need a more thorough examination than a basic letter chart test.
That’s why a comprehensive eye exam is more than essential for everyone, no matter their age.