An Annual Eye Exam Will Protect Your Gift of Sight
Periodic eye examinations are an important part of preventative health care. A yearly exam is recommended for everyone (regardless of age) as a way to maintain eye health and determine any needed visual correction. Yearly eye exams are also an important key in the diagnosis and prevention of eye diseases and other vision problems. Many eye and vision problems have no obvious symptoms, and as a result patients are often unaware that a problem exists. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions is important in maintaining good vision and also preventing vision loss when possible.
There are many things that you can do on a regular basis to help improve your eye health. According to the American Optometric Association, the following things can help maintain healthy eyes and good vision:
- Eat Healthy – Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and choose foods rich in antioxidants like leafy, green vegetables and fish to increase the health of your diet.
- Don’t Smoke – Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of noxious chemicals and increases the risk for developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Get Regular Exercise – Exercise improves blood circulation, increases oxygen levels to the eyes and aids in the removal of toxins.
- Wear Sunglasses – Protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays when outdoors. Choose sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection.
- Get Periodic Eye Examinations – Although vision may seem to remain stable from year to year, some problems may develop without any obvious signs or symptoms.
The Optomap Retinal Exam is another tool that provides a comprehensive method of evaluating, monitoring, and helping treat various eye conditions. This technology assists the doctor in viewing the retina to detect early signs of eye disease as well as other serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. The Optomap Retinal Exam only takes a few minutes to perform, and it is fast and painless for patients. It provides a permanent record of the condition of your retina that the doctor can refer to from year to year and compare each image in order to monitor your continuing eye health. Early detection of retinal problems is very important in preventing progression of disease and loss of vision.
OCT – This new technology provides an image of the layers beneath the surface of the retina. It is valuable to identify disease when there may be no outward signs or symptoms and when the disease is most treatable.