Regular Eye Appointments and Why They Are Important
July 6, 2021
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Going to a doctor and a dentist are both big parts of taking care of your health, but many people forget about their eye doctor. Going to the eye doctor regularly throughout life is just as important to keep your eyes and body healthy. Annual eye exams are important for numerous reasons, beyond making sure your vision is stable. They are recommended each year so that your eye doctor can track your eyes and overall health. Dr. Nguyen and her team of specialists in Virginia provide eye exams to any patients who need to have their eyes checked.
Myopia is Increasingly Affecting More and More People
Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is growing. More and more children are becoming nearsighted at an early age. This is concerning because people who develop myopia early in life tend to experience a progression of nearsightedness that continues throughout life. This puts patients at risk for sight-threatening eye conditions when they are older such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. To properly assess the risk of myopia for you or your child, you should make regular eye exams. Vision screenings done at school are no substitute as they are not as thorough as a professional eye exam. When detected early, measures can be taken to control myopia and reduce the risk of serious eye problems.
Eye Exams Can Detect Medical Issues
Your Virginia eye doctor will be able to tell you if you have a serious medical condition from a regular eye exam. Many people first learn of health conditions from a routine eye exam. Health conditions that can be detected are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and some types of cancer.
During a comprehensive eye exam, our team will evaluate the health and condition of the blood vessels in the retina. These are good indicators of the health of blood vessels throughout the body. Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia all make visible changes in the retinal blood supply and blood vessels.
Moreover, patients who are at risk for diabetes or who have it already need to get a routine eye exam as this condition could lead to diabetic retinopathy, diabetic eye disease happens to be the leading cause of blindness in adults. There are no symptoms of diabetic retinopathy in the early stages, so only through a comprehensive eye exam and signs of the disease be detected.
Common Eye Diseases
Many common eye diseases have no visible symptoms early-on, so they are only able to be detected by a professional eye doctor during a comprehensive exam. Some of these diseases are:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Age-related macular degeneration
These can be prevented and treated if detected early on. To make sure that you are in optimal health, continue to see your eye doctor regularly.
Make An Appointment Today
If you require a routine eye exam, do not hesitate to make an appointment. Our Virginia team provides comprehensive eye exams to all patients. To get started, contact our office today to make your appointment.