Book an eye exam

Why book an eye exam?

Regular eye exams are important to ensure that you continue to enjoy good eye health and vision. Good vision means working and playing better and safer - in fact it means a better quality of life. It means you can enjoy the things you love doing. Find your nearest optician and book an eye exam.

How often should I have an eye exam?

Your eyes should be checked by an optician at least every other year, even if you have perfect ‘20/20’ vision. Some people need to be checked more frequently than this. Your optician can advise you on the interval that is right for you.

If you have suffered with blurred vision or headaches, it’s even more important to have an eye examination. Your optician will look at your eyes and see if they could benefit from some simple exercises or if your sight needs correcting.

Why is an eye exam so important?

As well as checking whether your eyesight needs correction and how well your eyes work together, eye examinations check the general health of your eyes. They can also pick up and detect early signs of health conditions such as glaucoma, high blood pressure and diabetes. The earlier a problem is detected the greater the chance of successful treatment.

The early detection and treatment of visual impairment is vital for people of all ages. For young people, good eyesight is vital for learning. An eye examination will detect any problems in sight which may be affecting school performance and activities. As you get older, good eyesight is crucial to helping you live independently and reduce the risk of accidents.

What else can an eye exam reveal?

Your eyes reveal more about your health than just good or poor vision. Through them, your optician can get an idea of your overall health status.

Your eyes can tell a doctor more about the condition of your veins and arteries as your eyes than any other organ. Many metabolic irregularities affect your blood vessels, and your eyes can help diagnose these diseases early.

Your optician can also spot the early signs of diseases which may affect your vision. That’s why regular eye checks are so important, even if you don’t experience any problems with your vision.

What will your optician look for?

As well as checking whether your eyesight needs correction, your optician will also look for the following signs:

Headache

Severe disease can sometimes cause headaches, especially around your eyes and forehead. The range of diseases your optician can diagnose includes:

• Inflammation of the sinuses

• An undiscovered tumor

• Glaucoma (high pressure in the inner of your eye)

• Functional disorders of your eye muscles causing strabismus (when your eyes are misaligned)

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Your optician will be able to see any irregular or narrow blood vessels, an early sign of hypertension.

Diabetes

Small circular areas of bleeding or deposits on your retina can be a sign of diabetes picked up by your optician, as can changing vision.

Stroke

Your retina can tell your optician whether you could be at risk of a stroke. Typical narrow retinal vessels in a special shape can be discovered during an eye exam and help you to make sure you’re receiving the right treatment to reduce your risk.

High cholesterol

An eye exam can help uncover the damage elevated cholesterol may have done to your body. Your optician can detect signs of high cholesterol early, helping to protect you from the following conditions and maybe even extending your life:

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Stroke

Multiple Sclerosis

Double vision, visual field loss and uncoordinated or involuntary eye movements can be early signs of Multiple Sclerosis. An eye exam can never take the place of a thorough exam by your doctor or a specialist, but it can help diagnose warning signs for you to get checked later.

Book an eye exam today

Even if you have perfect vision, it’s still important to get your eyes checked. Find your nearest optician and book an eye exam today.