You may think that your eyes are functioning well if you have good eyesight, are comfortable while driving, and do not have any trouble seeing what is on your phone screen.

But good eyesight does not guarantee everything.

There may be certain eye problems which develop without any symptoms being visible until they start affecting vision; hence, it should be remembered that August is Eye Exam Month. This means that eye care is not only concerned with visiting the optometrist when there is a problem with vision.

Can You Have Healthy-Looking Vision and Still Have an Eye Problem?

Yes. This is, in fact, one of the main reasons why having a regular eye exam is important.

Conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes-related eye disorders, and other retina-related illnesses can take years before they become serious. Despite feeling that your vision is still perfect, the changes may have started in your eyes.

In this case, glaucoma may have an impact on the optic nerve, yet you won't show any signs or symptoms at the onset of the condition. Once there are changes in your peripheral vision, the damage must have already been done.

The eye examination gives the doctor an opportunity to look beyond your clear vision.

What Happens During an Eye Exam?

A comprehensive eye exam is more than checking whether you need stronger glasses.

Based on age, symptoms, personal history, and various other factors, your eye specialist may examine your vision, eye movements, eye pressure, optic nerve, retina, and the other structures of your eyes.

An eye examination can also reveal any of the symptoms related to diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, cataracts, or retinal diseases.

That is why a vision screening can be beneficial for you even if you have no complaints about your vision.

Why Early Detection of Eye Diseases Matters

Detection of a problem does not imply prevention or cure of every eye problem. However, early detection provides more chances for monitoring and treatment of the condition by your eye doctor.

Especially if it is a condition that does not have visible symptoms and can progress.

Through regular examinations, your eye specialist can:

• Observe any changes in your vision
• Screen for early onset of glaucoma
• Find any cataracts or other age-related problems
• Assess the health of the retina
• Find diabetic eye disease or other problems with your eyes
• Prescribe new glasses if necessary

Offer treatment or recommend other tests if necessary

Consider an eye exam as preventive health care.

Who Should Have Regular Eye Examinations?

Eye care is important to all, but regular check-ups are necessary when someone has a history of eye disease, diabetes, hypertension or any other eye problem in his/her family.

It is very important to consider age as well. The probability of developing eye problems like cataract, glaucoma and retinal diseases increases with age.

Kids also require proper eye check-ups because vision is very important for learning. Sometimes, kids don’t even know whether their vision is good or not.

Don't Ignore Small Changes in Your Eyes

Having good vision today does not mean that you will have good eyes tomorrow.

Be aware of any symptoms like persistent blurry vision, flashes or floaters, trouble seeing at night, eye pain, unusual redness of the eye, double vision, or sudden changes in vision. Symptoms do not necessarily mean that there is something wrong, but they need to be taken seriously.

Any sudden loss of vision or sudden change in vision is considered an emergency for the eyes.

Make Eye Health Part of Your Regular Healthcare

It is very tempting to skip an eye exam when everything looks fine. However, this is precisely the time when an eye exam would come in handy.

When National Eye Exam Month rolls around, think about when was the last time that you went through a proper eye exam. If it is a while back, then an eye exam at Anideep Eye Hospital could prove to be beneficial for you.

Conclusion

Clear vision is vital; however, having clear vision does not guarantee that the eyes are healthy. There are cases where an eye condition could have silently set in, making symptom checking not the most reliable method.

Eye exams are essential for detecting any changes that may occur as well as monitoring current eye risks.

If it's already time for you to undergo an eye exam, then make an appointment with Anideep Eye Hospital and get yourself a thorough eye checkup.