To keep your eyes healthy, you need a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This type of exam involves an eye care professional using eye drops to widen the pupils to check for common vision problems and eye diseases. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to find out if you need glasses or contacts, or if you are in the early stages of any eye-related diseases. Some eye conditions can cause vision loss and even blindness, including:
- Cataracts, a clouding of the eye
- Diabetic retinopathy, which damages the blood vessels in the back of the eye
- Glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve, often with increased eye pressure
- Age-related macular degeneration, which gradually affects central vision
Other eye conditions, such as refractive errors, which happen when the shape of your eye doesn’t bend light correctly, are common problems easily corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery. An estimated 11 million Americans 12 years and older could see better if they used corrective lenses, or had eye surgery, if appropriate.
You should have a dilated eye exam regularly to check for common eye problems. Get the exam every one to two years if you:
- Are over age 60
- Are African American and over age 40
- Have a family history of glaucoma
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, ask your doctor how often you need an eye exam. Most people with diabetes or high blood pressure need a dilated eye exam every year.
Although older adults have more vision problems, preschoolers may not see as well as they can. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that children have at least one eye exam between age 3 and 5 years.
Regardless of your age, if you’re not sure when the last time you had an eye exam, it’s probably time to go see an eye care professional. As May is Healthy Vision Month, it offers one more reminder to make sure you are taking care of your eyes. Help us keep your eyes, and those of your little ones, healthy!