Common Questions
|
Why do I need an eye exam every year?
In truth, I have seen many patients who have never had an eye exam, or it has been "a long time" since their last exam. Most of the time everything is fine and they are perfectly healthy.
They are just getting a little older and their vision is not what it used to be. However, there are a number of individuals who come in thinking a pair of glasses will improve their vision when in fact they have a sight threatening or even a life threatening issue. |
Because many serious issues are painless and have no other symptoms, but can be detected early, and treated before they are a real problem, I highly recommend getting your eyes examined even if you don't need new glasses.
When should my child have an eye exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends that every child should be examined by an eye doctor at about 6 months of age, aproximately at age 3, and then at least every other year unless they are at risk.
Children considered to be at risk for the development of eye and vision problems may need additional testing or more frequent re-evaluation. Factors placing an infant, toddler, or child at significant risk for visual impairment include:
Children considered to be at risk for the development of eye and vision problems may need additional testing or more frequent re-evaluation. Factors placing an infant, toddler, or child at significant risk for visual impairment include:
- Prematurity, low birth weight, oxygen at birth, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage
- Family history of retinoblastoma, congenital cataracts, or metabolic or genetic disease
- Infection of mother during pregnancy (e.g., rubella, toxoplasmosis, venereal disease, herpes, cytomegalovirus, or AIDS)
- Difficult or assisted labor, which may be associated with fetal distress or low Apgar scores
- High refractive error
- Strabismus
- Anisometropia
- Known or suspected central nervous system dysfunction evidenced by developmental delay, cerebral palsy, dysmorphic features, seizures, or hydrocephalus
What's the difference between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists?
There are two main differences between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist.
The first is education. After college, a future ophthalmologist goes to medical school and becomes a medical doctor (MD) During this four year process, they usually spend about two months learning about and treating eye disease.
If they find this interesting and want to pursue ophthalmology, they spend another two to three years in residency to become a general ophthalmologist. These individuals can examine, diagnose, and treat most eye diseases and perform surgery.
There are specialty ophthalmologist who seek further education and specialize in one part of the eye, (the retina for example). This process can take another five years to complete.
Optometrists, on the other hand, already know when they apply to professional school that they are interested in examining, diagnosing, and treating eye diseases. They enter optometry school with this goal. The entire four year program is built around this goal. When the optometrist graduates, they are ready and able to take care of most of the the general population's ocular health and vision needs.
The second difference is that due to legislation, not education, optometrists are not allowed to do surgery in most states.
So, until you need surgery, your local optometrist is more than capable of taking care of all your ocular health and vision needs.
More importantly, since he or she knows all the local subspecialists, if you do need surgery of any type, they will know when and who to send you to.
The first is education. After college, a future ophthalmologist goes to medical school and becomes a medical doctor (MD) During this four year process, they usually spend about two months learning about and treating eye disease.
If they find this interesting and want to pursue ophthalmology, they spend another two to three years in residency to become a general ophthalmologist. These individuals can examine, diagnose, and treat most eye diseases and perform surgery.
There are specialty ophthalmologist who seek further education and specialize in one part of the eye, (the retina for example). This process can take another five years to complete.
Optometrists, on the other hand, already know when they apply to professional school that they are interested in examining, diagnosing, and treating eye diseases. They enter optometry school with this goal. The entire four year program is built around this goal. When the optometrist graduates, they are ready and able to take care of most of the the general population's ocular health and vision needs.
The second difference is that due to legislation, not education, optometrists are not allowed to do surgery in most states.
So, until you need surgery, your local optometrist is more than capable of taking care of all your ocular health and vision needs.
More importantly, since he or she knows all the local subspecialists, if you do need surgery of any type, they will know when and who to send you to.
Why do I have to be seen every year for contacts?
It seems rather odd and not quite fair that a prescription for glasses expires in two years and the prescription for contact lenses expires in only one year. This requires a re-examination in order to purchase more contact lenses. Why is this?
A great question and one that is asked by almost every contact lens wearer. The reason is that contact lenses are essentially artificial organs. They are placed between two very sensitive and two very active soft tissue membranes (the inside of your eye lid and the eye itself). Because of the constant interaction between the lens and the two surfaces of the eye, solutions that the lens is stored in, and the deposition of microscopic particles on the lenses, a condition similar to organ transplant rejection syndrome can occur. Annual re-evaluation is important to monitor this along with the fit of lenses to ensure safe use of the lenses.
A great question and one that is asked by almost every contact lens wearer. The reason is that contact lenses are essentially artificial organs. They are placed between two very sensitive and two very active soft tissue membranes (the inside of your eye lid and the eye itself). Because of the constant interaction between the lens and the two surfaces of the eye, solutions that the lens is stored in, and the deposition of microscopic particles on the lenses, a condition similar to organ transplant rejection syndrome can occur. Annual re-evaluation is important to monitor this along with the fit of lenses to ensure safe use of the lenses.
