Eye Exams Are Vital to the Health of Your Eyes
August is finally here! This month usually signals that summer is coming to an end. That doesn’t mean the temperature looks to go down anytime soon. The sun continues to beat down on us, raising temperatures to the triple digits here in Texas. The sun’s UV rays are still high, which means they pose a threat to the health of everyone. While most people understand the danger UV rays have on your skin, they also pose a significant threat to the health of your eyes. Protecting your eyes is crucial all year long, especially in the summer. Nothing is better for protecting your eyes and recognizing issues before it’s too late, like an eye exam.
What better time than August to schedule your next eye exam?! After all, National Eye Exam Month falls in August every year. We dedicate this month to sharing the importance of eye health and safety, as well as stressing the importance of yearly eye exams. Eye exams are the best way to catch eye diseases before they cause any problems. Sears Optical founded National Eye Exam Month back in 1989 as a way to educate the public about eye health and safety.
Many people believe that since they can see well that they don’t need to visit their eye doctor. However, eye diseases often take time before they make themselves known. By the time you identify them, it may be too late. Eye exams help you catch them early, preventing any vision loss. If you cannot remember the last time you had an eye exam, contact First Eye Care DFW to schedule your next appointment.
How Many People Get Eye Exams?
In a 2018 survey, eight out of ten people agreed that vision is the most important sense. 97% of respondents also agreed that having healthy eyes is vital. However, only about half of people get annual eye exams. Even though people understand that vision is essential, and eye health should be a priority, many people fail to get an eye exam.
Why is this an issue? In the United States, over 150 million people require corrective eyewear, whether eyeglasses or contacts, to compensate for refractive errors. Over one million Americans 40 years and older are legally blind. Furthermore, over 70% of the workforce needs vision correction. Unfortunately, 37% of people do not realize that they will not experience symptoms before they lose their vision due to an eye disease.
As you can see, people agree that their vision is essential. However, roughly half of people do not take the necessary steps to ensure that their vision and eye health are safe. There is no time better than National Eye Exam Month to make a change.
Detecting Eye Diseases
There are countless eye diseases that can threaten your vision. While not every disease will result in permanent vision loss, they all affect your vision in some way. Unbeknownst to many, these conditions do not reduce your vision right away. They develop without showing signs or symptoms. By the time you recognize there is an issue, it is already too late. Without the help of a dilated eye exam, you will not be able to catch them. Some of the most common conditions discovered during eye exams include:
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Retinal detachments
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
Comprehensive eye exams can also diagnose refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. However, eye exams can do much more than uncover eye conditions.
Uncovering Other Health Problems
Your eyes are complex organs. While you may go to your eye doctor to check your vision and eye health, your eyes can also be a good indicator of the development of other health concerns throughout your body. During an eye exam, your eye doctor will examine the blood vessels in your eyes, the retina, and other vital parts of your eye. During these exams, your doctor can discover hidden health concerns, such as:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Thyroid diseases
- Hypertension
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
In the previously mentioned survey, 61% of people worry about diabetes impacting the health of their families. However, only 4% are aware that eye doctors can detect diabetes early during an annual eye exam. Even if you don’t think there is something wrong with your vision, or your overall health, you should still regularly visit your eye doctor. National Eye Exam Month is the perfect time to schedule your next appointment!
Children and Eye Exams
Vision is vital to the success of your child’s development. Without it, they will struggle in school, as 80% of what is learned in school is visual. Parents understand that a child’s vision is crucial to their overall success in school and society. 84% of parents agree that regular eye exams are key to the academic success of their child. However, 41% wait until their child complains about poor vision before they schedule their appointment.
One in four school-aged children has a vision problem that can impact their learning ability, personality, and more. Even worse, nearly a third of children have not received an eye exam within the last two years, leaving many vision issues undiagnosed.
Experts recommend that children have an eye exam between the ages of 6-12 months and then at three years old and five years old for healthy children. Optometrists recommend children get an eye exam every year until they turn 18 since they are still growing. By getting an eye exam at an early age, you help prevent eye disease and conditions from impacting a child’s development.
Symptoms of Vision Issues
There are some signs and symptoms to pay attention to, such as:
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Difficulty seeing objects up close or far away
- Squinting to see better
- Eye fatigue
- Irritability
- Dry eyes
If you begin to notice any of these symptoms, you should contact your eye doctor and schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
National Eye Exam Month in August is committed to sharing the importance of eye health and safety. Eye exams are the best way to catch eye diseases before they lead to vision loss. They also allow your eye doctor to correct any refractive errors you may have. Celebrate National Eye Exam Month by contacting First Eye Care DFW and scheduling your next appointment today.