Eye Examination

It is amazing how few people make a point of getting a regular eye examination. Even having one every few years can help an individual with everything from chronic headaches to actual problems that may have developed in their eyes or with their vision. It is a sad fact that most people don't arrange for a visit to their vision professional until they have an actual issue or concern.

An eye examination is never painful and is usually accomplished in less than half an hour. The doctor is going to do far more than check to see if the patient needs glasses, however. They will always also check the eyes for any signs of disease, ensure that the eyes are working together as necessary and use the condition of the eyes as a measure of overall health.

How can the eyes be used to check on health? Just like any other system in the body, the eyes change as the body ages. An eye examination on a child might alert the parents that there are developmental problems with the child that are not related to mental capacity or attention issues. Quite often, children with poor or problematic vision are misunderstood as "acting up" or being inattentive, when in fact they are simply unable to see the teacher or read the writing on the blackboard. In addition, a child whose eyes are not developing properly according to their age may have a physical problem or illness that has yet to be detected as well.

An older individual should also make a point of getting a regular eye examination because issues that occur first in the eyes can also cue the doctor to recognize additional health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

It is significant to note that some people consider a "vision screening" to be an eye examination, and unfortunately, this is not the case. A screening is a very general test that indicates problems strictly with the visual capability of the individual. Quite often, a medical expert like a nurse or pediatrician will do a visual screening, and, if any problems should appear, they may indicate to the patient that they have a need to seek out a formal eye examination. This formal exam is done only by a trained eye doctor who is able to recommend the best treatments or solutions for any of the issues that may be detected during the full examination.