Regular eye exams are crucial to your health. An eye doctor is able to examine and inform if you have any vision related, health and eye disease issues off the bat. However, a visual screening alone would not be sufficient. A complete eye exam is the only way to ensure a good bill of health. For without a thorough eye exam, these issues may go unnoticed causing permanent damage.
So what is the difference between a visual screening and a comprehensive eye exam? Here are a few guidelines to help you assess the difference providing information on what to expect during your next eye exam.
A vision screening is a simple exam performed by a school nurse, volunteers at community centers, and at the Department of Motor Vehicles. A vision screening is designed to detect blurring and muscle coordination problems. However, it is not able to identify the overall situation of your eyesight. It is a limited test to help detect patients at risk for vision problems.
A comprehensive eye exam covers what a vision screening cannot. It not only tests for eyeglasses and/or contacts, but rather checks for eye diseases and other problems that could lead to vision loss. For example, glaucoma has no symptoms during the early stages, but it may cause permanent vision loss if not caught early. Thus, an eye doctor conducts a health check of your eyes inside and out for signs of early problems. An eye doctor is able to discover glaucoma before it reaches the point of damage, while in a vision screening you are not able to accomplish this task.
After the exam is completed, your eye doctor will discuss an overview of the results. The eye doctor will explain what stage your eyesight is currently in, if change has occurred, and what are the overall results of your eye exam. Next, the doctor will provide treatment options, which may include a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, surgery and/or medication. In some cases, the eye doctor will recommend vitamins needed for eye health.
If eyeglasses are required, the eye doctor will pass you along to the eye techs in the eye center. The techs will fit you for eyeglass frames and lenses. For issues ensue if eyeglasses are not fit properly. Thus, you need to make sure you are having eyeglass fittings fulfilled by an experienced eye professional.
If you are a contact lens wearer then you need to inform the office prior to booking your appointment. For there are specific exams conducted for contacts, which take longer than regular appointments. Allow the office to prepare and schedule the appointment accordingly.
After the contact lens exam is finished, the doctor shall ask you questions. He/she may ask about your lifestyle to determine what type is best suited for you. There are disposable contacts, weeklies, bi weeklies and soft lenses to choose from resulting in a wide array ensuring there are many different kinds available for you.
After determining what type of contacts, a fitting for the lenses occurs. Contacts may cause damage and discomfort if not fitted correctly. As a result, be vocal with your eye professional. Let he/she know if there are any problems ensuring receive proper treatment preventing any further damage from occurring.
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For more information on Arizona's leading optical provider check out Nationwide Vision at /http://nationwidevision.com.
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