The Importance of Eye Exams
Regardless of your age, health, or clarity of vision, it is important to have regular eye examinations. Your doctor will do a thorough examination of the outer and inner layers of the eye to see if there are any current or future risks. Many eye problems will not affect your vision during the early detectable and preventable stages. Examples of these include glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal problems. Complete eye exams also determine need for a glasses Rx, which balances the clearest and most comfortable vision with how your eyes work together.
Who Should Have Their Eyes Examined
Eye exams are a vital part of overall health for all individuals. The eyes are the only place in the body that doctors can directly look at blood vessels and nerves without skin covering. Adults should have yearly eye exams to monitor for early signs of eye disease and to keep their prescriptions current. Children starting at infancy (ideally 8mo) need to be examined closely to ensure proper visual development. Over 80% of learning happens visually, children who can not see well can not learn well. Many children will not complain of vision problems simply because they do not know what “normal” vision looks like. If your child performs poorly in school, complains of headaches or struggles with homework, it is important to have their vision evaluated.
Eye Exams for Children
While vision screenings at school and the pediatrician’s office are important, they are not detailed enough to find many eye problems. Children need comprehensive eye examinations by a licensed eye doctor. Vision screenings will catch large problems, but often do not consider the health of the eye or how the eyes work together. Thorough eye and visual health examinations are important for ensuring proper development. We use a variety of testing methods for children that do not require verbal feedback, ensuring the accuracy of our evaluation.
Your Infants Visual Development
Yes, even infants should have their eyes examined by an eye doctor. Insight Eyecare offers free eye exams to children 6-9 months old under the InfantSEE program. We recommend that you visit InfantSEE on the web to learn more about the importance of early eye care.
