The Value of Regular Optometrist Visits

Thankfully, more and more people are taking the time to visit their doctors regularly and have proper checkups every once in a while. However, even with that positive attitude of modern world, a lot of people neglect the importance of regular eye exams. And, as you can imagine, visiting your optometrist on a regular basis is extremely important for one’s health, and that’s not just the eye health. Both kids and adults should make these visits consistent so that any beginning problems are treated in time and any more serious issues prevented.

For starters, an eye exam is necessary for a child's success

Parents have to be aware of the fact that children spend a lot of their time in front of the screens nowadays. Precisely because of that, there’s more chance for vision problems. And if they can’t see properly in the classroom or outdoors, children are more than likely to develop some learning issues. Obviously, this can only impede their success. But, with regular eye exams, the doctor will be able to check whether there are any vision issues and deal with potential problems ASAP. After all, imagine if your kid couldn’t see well in the classroom and yet they remain quiet because they don’t understand what’s going on. This could lead to all sorts of troubles and a huge amount of stress for the child.

Nearsightedness is becoming a huge problem

More and more children are developing nearsightedness at an earlier and earlier age. You may not think that this is a big deal; after all, there are plenty of cool glass frames available these days. However, it’s essential that the nearsightedness gets diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. When this particular eye condition is concerned, it tends to worsen throughout childhood and thus can lead to many more serious issues later in life, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Early detection can slow down the progression of nearsightedness and prevent these more serious conditions from happening.

Screenings cannot replace proper eye exams

People tend to think that simple vision screenings are proof that they see well. But, even if one may see well that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other potential problems with their eye health. This is why screenings could never replace a proper eye exam. If you feel uncomfortable with eye exams, make sure that you find an optometrist that you like and trust. This is rather an important practice in countries like Australia where the possibility of driving longer to get to your doctor is quite real. Of course, those living in large cities like Sydney can easily reach professional Macquarie center optometrist and other area clinics, but, even if you live in a more rural area, always go for the optometrist that you like enough to make that trip.

Glaucoma is a sneaky illness

There aren’t that many obvious signs of developing glaucoma that one would be able to detect on their own. This is why regular visits to the optometrist are essential. Only a proper eye exam can detect glaucoma so that you and your doctor can take the necessary measures for treatment as soon as possible. After all, if left untreated, glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness. And, as mentioned, something as serious as glaucoma won’t be discoverable on a simple vision screening test, so don’t treat these as a full eye exam.

Regular optometrist visits can detect other serious health issues

It’s not just about your eye health; a proper eye exam gets a proper look into your blood vessels, which are great indicators of other diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even cancer. That said, a regular eye exam can save lives. What’s more, if you know you have diabetes or higher blood sugar, paying your optometrist a visit is a must as the so-called diabetic eye disease can often lead to blindness if not treated.

Even if your vision is great you still need to take annual eye checkups. After all, that’s the case with every health exam – you don’t have to notice the problem in order for the problem to exist. That said, organize yourself better so that you don’t actually miss these appointments. For instance, you can designate one month in a year when you tend to all of your annual checkups so that you know to clear up the schedule and book the sessions in advance. No skipping!