Why are regular eye exams important?
by
Gabrielle Mays
Posted: 03.12.2012 at 12:48 PM
HOUGHTON -- Some call them the windows to the soul, but optometrists call them the ocular sinister and the ocular dexter.
Experts say it is important to keep your eyes healthy in order for your vision to last throughout your entire life.
“Our eyes, in my opinion, are probably one of the most important part of the day-to-day use of getting around and seeing; everything we do from work to play to recreation,” said Dr. Holly O’Clair.
Some of the best ways to take care of your eyes are wearing sunglasses to protect them from corneal damage and limiting your computer usage.
Experts say you should get your vision checked every one to two years especially as you get older.
“The older we get, the more important eye exams become. Even if you don’t wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision, watching for health problems in the eyes is just an important thing to do,” Dr. O’Clair said.
An eye exam can last up to an hour, and if you are having difficulty seeing things close up or far away, the doctor will use a machine called a phoropter which determines whether or not you should wear glasses.
Doctors might also use a retina scanner which is used to determine the diagnosis of eye diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration.
For those who wear glasses, experts say your prescription might change, and so it is important to update your glasses every two years.
“Dryness and the contact lens comfort kind of go hand-in-hand in our winter months up here, so try and keep them hydrated,” Dr. O’Clair said.
Dr. O’Clair says a lot of eye problems are silent, and early treatment is very important to help prevent any long-term damage to your eyes.