What role do regular eye care play in preventing vision problems?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been experiencing some changes in my vision lately, mainly blurred vision and it is starting to worry me. I think it is time for an eye examination, but I am not sure what to expect or why it is important. Can you walk me through what typically happens during an eye examination and why it is crucial for maintaining eye health? Also, I am concerned about conditions like blindness and vision impairment. How common are these issues, and are there any early signs or symptoms I should be aware of? Additionally, what role do regular eye care and visits to the ophthalmologist play in preventing vision problems and ensuring overall eye health?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

If your eyes are healthy and your vision is good, you should have a complete exam by your ophthalmologist once in your 20s and twice in your 30s. There are some exceptions:

If you have an infection, injury, or eye pain, or you notice sudden floaters and flashes or patterns of light, call your ophthalmologist.
If you wear contact lenses, see your eye specialist every year.
If you have diabetes or have a family history of eye disease, talk with your ophthalmologist about how often your eyes should be examined.

The examination will include:

Medical history: The doctor will ask you about your vision and your general health. They will ask about your family's medical history and what medications you take.
Visual acuity: This is the part of an eye exam people are most familiar with. You will read an eye chart to determine how well you see at various distances. You cover one eye while the other is being tested. This exam will determine whether you have 20/20 vision or not.
Your prescription for corrective lenses: Your doctor will ask you to look at an eye chart through a device called a phoropter. The phoropter contains different lenses. It will help determine the best eyeglass or contact lens prescription for you.
Your pupils: Your doctor may check how your pupils respond to light by shining a bright beam of light into your eye. Pupils usually respond by getting smaller. If your pupils widen or do not respond, this may reveal an underlying problem.
Your side vision: Loss of side vision (peripheral vision) may be a symptom of glaucoma. This test can find eye problems you aren't aware of because you can lose your vision without noticing.
Your eye movement.: A test called ocular motility evaluates the movement of your eyes. Your ophthalmologist looks to see if your eyes are aligned. They also check that your eye muscles are working properly.
Your eye pressure: Eye pressure testing, called tonometry, measures the pressure within your eye (intraocular eye pressure or IOP). Elevated IOP is one sign of glaucoma. The test may involve a quick puff of air onto the eye or gently applying a pressure-sensitive tip near or against your eye. Your ophthalmologist may use numbing eye drops for this test for your comfort.
The front part of your eye: Your ophthalmologist uses a slit-lamp microscope to light up the front part of the eye. This includes the eyelids, cornea, iris, and lens. This test checks for cataracts or any scars or scratches on your cornea.
Your retina and optic nerve: Your ophthalmologist will put dilating eye drops in your eye to dilate, or widen, your pupil. This will allow them to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage from disease. Your eyes might be sensitive to light for a few hours after dilation.

Other tests during an eye examination can be suggested by the ophthalmologist to further examine your eye. This can include specialized imaging techniques such as:

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus photos, fluorescein angiography (FA), topography, which is a scan of the surface of your cornea, automated visual field

I hope this helps.

Thank you.