While the questions you are asked in an exam may not seem important in nature, they actually serve a vital purpose in ensuring you are receiving the proper care and care that is unique to you and your specific needs. Throughout your exam you will be asked multiple questions, some may be in regards to your family’s health history, medications you take, what your goal is for your vision, and “Which is clearer, one or two”. Questions like these provide a larger picture of who you are, what your risks are for developing certain eye conditions, and the best options for you based off what your vision goals are. For example, we may not recommend glasses to someone who does extreme sports and doesn’t like the feeling of something on their face while participating in the activity of their choice. In this situation your doctor may decide you would be a great candidate for a contact lens or you may have a low enough prescription your doctor may recommend only wearing your glasses during certain activities like reading or driving. 

One question you will almost always hear during your yearly exam is “Which is clearer, one or two?” This question in particular assists the doctors in taking the objective results we saw during your refraction, the test that helps you get your glasses prescription, and turn them into a subjective prescription based on what looks and feels best for you. Another question that frequently pops up during your exam is “Do you have a family history of any medical or vision conditions?” This question is incredibly important as it helps your vision care team assess what your risk may be for developing certain eye conditions and can better equip us to be able to screen you properly for eye conditions. Knowing your family medical history can also help us asses your risk for developing certain eye conditions as conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, and Crohn’s Disease can affect your vision health. 

Overall, all the questions you are asked during your exam contribute to allowing your care team to provide a well-rounded and thorough approach to your eye health. Your honesty and openness during your exam help tremendously in ensuring you receive exceptional care.

If you are looking for vision plan coverage, consider a VSP Individual Plan. These plans can be purchased out of pocket and then provide coverage towards your routine eye exam and glasses or contact lenses.

The new year is an excellent time for Miami County citizens to become educated, to get their eyes checked and to get treatment if needed, before permanent and irreversible damage begins.

Experts call glaucoma “the sneak thief of sight” because there are no symptoms in the early stages such as blurred vision, a feeling of pressure in or behind the eye or pain. When a person finally notices a change in their sight, more than 40 percent of their optic nerve (the nerve that transmits the light from our eyes back to our brain) may be destroyed. This damage is permanent.

Once the individual sees symptoms it can be difficult to prevent more damage, vision loss or potential blindness.

Experts estimate that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma and 50 percent of them don’t know it. It accounts for 9 to 12 percent of all blindness. As Americans age, the Glaucoma Research Foundation predicts an epidemic of blindness looming. The purpose of Glaucoma Awareness Month in January is to educate people about the importance of regular eye exams to preserve vision.

Many people are unaware that a simple and painless test at the eye doctor’s office can determine if a person has or is developing glaucoma. Treatment can be as simple as an eye drop once a day.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Glaucoma can affect people of all ages but is most common in middle aged and the elderly. Those at higher risk include people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. Other high-risk groups include: people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics and people who are severely nearsighted.

Although active research to cure glaucoma continues, as of yet there is no cure. However there are excellent medications, and surgery for more severe cases, that can slow or prevent additional vision loss. The key to preventing permanent vision loss is early detection so treatment can begin as soon as possible.

Remember, you cannot tell if you have glaucoma in the early stages but your eye doctor can often detect it before damage even begins. That’s why making time to schedule regular comprehensive eyes exams is so important. If it’s been over a year since your last eye exam, give your local eye doctor a call to make sure you are not at risk of losing your vision from glaucoma.

At Eyecare Associates of Osawatomie, all comprehensive eye exams include measurement of intraocular pressure and evaluation of the optic nerve to detect any potential glaucoma. Call today to schedule your exam at (913)256-2176.