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August: National Eye Exam Month

August 10, 2017

Here’s something to think about–over 70% of the country’s workforce requires some form of vision correction. That means there’s a good chance that you may need some sort of vision correction during your lifetime.

If you’re one of those people who can hardly remember the last eye exam they had, then let this August be the month that you get back on track.

After all, August is National Eye Exam Month. There’s a reason we have a whole month devoted to eye exams. Getting a regular eye exam is the best way to ensure that you’ll catch problems early, use the right prescription lenses, and generally keep your eyes in great shape. Even if you think all is well, an eye exam is something you really shouldn’t be putting off. Here’s why.

Early Detection

Many problems with your eyes can go undetected for a while. You may think that your vision is pretty good, so that means there isn’t a problem. This isn’t necessarily true, though. Many times, only a dilated eye exam by your eye doctor can uncover eye diseases in their earliest stages. And it’s in those early stages when many diseases are at their most treatable. Waiting until there’s a noticeable problem can potentially make it harder to treat.

Signs Of Other Problems

Here’s another thing to remember—your eye doctor may be able to alert you to overall health problems, too. Many people think the eye doctor can only tell you if there’s a problem with your eyes. But the truth is, a comprehensive eye exam can tell you about other problems, as well. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other diseases can be spotted through an eye exam. The doctor will examine the blood vessels, retina, and other parts of the eye to determine if there’s a problem that isn’t directly about your vision.

It makes sense when you think about it. Your eyes are part of an extremely complex system, and when something goes wrong, there’s a good chance it will affect them, too.

Prescriptions

If you already have glasses or contacts, you may be wondering why you need to have a regular eye exam. They figured out the problem, and now you have glasses. That’s the end of it, right? Not really. As people age, it’s very common for their vision to continue to change. Which means you could be walking around with the wrong prescription, hurting your corrective lenses’ ability to help you see clearly. This can happen slowly, so you may not notice it right away. A regular eye exam will ensure that you’re using the right prescription lenses.

How Often Should You Get An Eye Exam?

For adults 18-60, it’s recommended that you get a comprehensive eye exam every two years. For adults over 60, the recommendation jumps to once a year. The reason for this is that the risk for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration increase with age. Getting an annual eye exam can catch these issues early on, and help to prevent vision loss.

Based on those numbers, are you overdue for an eye exam? Or do you just need to schedule your next appointment? Either way, if you’re in the New Jersey area, then contact us today at OCLI to set up an appointment.

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