Why Eye Exams Are Important

Why Eye Exams Are Important

Many people think their eyesight is just fine without realizing there’s been a gradual decline and they may need glasses or contact lenses.

Roughly 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction. But that’s just one reason to get your eyes examined. Regular eye exams can also help find eye diseases early to protect your vision.

August is National Eye Exam month and it’s the perfect time to schedule an eye exam if you haven’t had one in the last year or two.  

Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed for a long time. Some eye problems don’t have any symptoms in their early stages.

Common eye problems

• Cataracts, which cause clouding of the lens, are the leading cause of vision loss.
• Diabetic retinopathy causes damage to blood vessels in the back of the eye. It’s the leading cause of blindness in American adults. Early detection and treatment can prevent or delay blindness from diabetic retinopathy in nine out of 10 people with diabetes. Diabetes can also increase the risk of other eye problems like cataracts or glaucoma.
• Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve.
• Age-related macular degeneration causes gradual breakdown of light-sensitive tissue in the eye.

Just one out of two people at high risk for vision loss visit an eye doctor every year. Regular eye care can help millions preserve their vision.

Start early

Though people tend to have more vision problems as they get older, children need eye exams too. Less than half of preschool children have had their vision tested to check for common eye diseases.

How often to get eye exams

Children’s eyes should be checked regularly by an eye doctor or pediatrician. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that children have at least one eye exam between age 3 and 5 years.

People with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam every year.

Some people are at higher risk for glaucoma and should have a dilated eye exam every 2 years:

• Black Americans 40 years and older.
• All adults older than 60, especially Mexican American adults.
• People with a family history of glaucoma.

Source: CDC