Why eye exams are important

Many people visit the eye doctor when their vision seems blurred, or their eyes are irritated or red. Unfortunately, many of those same people neglect regular eye exams that can detect subtle changes which lead to larger problems in the future. Eye examinations are important even if our eyes and vision are fine—because many blinding eye diseases have few or no warning signs until they have taken away some or all of our vision.

The most common cause of blindness in the United States is diabetic eye disease. In the early stages, when it is most easily treated, diabetic eye disease has no symptoms. The best way for a diabetic to know if he or she has diabetic eye disease is to get routine eye examinations at least once a year. The second most common cause of blindness in the US is glaucoma. Glaucoma is often a silent thief of sight because it has no symptoms at all until the disease is very advanced. Once vision is lost as a result of the disease, it can never be regained; thus finding out you have glaucoma early can avoid vision loss. Glaucoma is more common in older adults, but can occur at any age. Yearly exams can check for any changes that may indicate a possibility of glaucoma.

The most common cause of blindness among Americans over age 50 is macular degeneration. In the early stages of macular degeneration, recommendations can be given to reduce the chance that the disease will get worse. The only way to know if you have early macular degeneration is to have routine eye examinations even if your eyes seem fine.

These are just a few of the major eye diseases that can cause blindness if untreated. To be safe, you should have a thorough eye examination on a regular basis to be sure your eyes are as healthy as you think they are. Finding eye diseases as early as possible gives you the best chance of preserving your sight.