One of the best things you can do to safeguard your vision is to go to an eye doctor for regular checkups. Most people get vision screenings and presume they are okay. The problem is that they do not know the difference between comprehensive eye exams and vision screenings.

 

Vision screenings are not sufficient on their own. You may still have an underlying eye condition undetected even after undergoing a vision screening. For that, you need to get a regular comprehensive eye exam.

 

Comprehensive Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye exam consists of tests that assess your vision. It also checks for any signs of eye diseases. It takes an hour or more, as the tests require more detail. During comprehensive eye exams, doctors use different kinds of equipment and instruments. Comprehensive eye exams are important because they help detect eye problems early.

 

They help doctors catch and treat eye problems before leading to other issues like blindness. Comprehensive eye exams will also give insight into your overall health. As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul. In this case, they are a window to your body and its overall health.

 

Vision Screenings

Vision screenings intend to establish if you are at risk of eyesight problems. They involve a brief and general evaluation of your eyes. They look for signs of irregularities and changes that can cause you not to see images. They usually check for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

 

If the doctor sees warning signs of other eye conditions, they recommend a comprehensive eye exam. Therefore, vision screenings are just the first step in your regular eye checkups.

 

Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams

Many people do not realize it, but your eyes can tell a lot about your overall health. It is thus vital for you to go for comprehensive eye exams. Blood vessels in your eyes, abnormal growths, and other changes can predict underlying issues that may catch you unaware.

 

There are so many benefits of getting comprehensive eye exams. Here are a few to get you on the way to taking better care of your eyes.

 

Insight on Your Overall Health

The eyes are usually the first part of the body to show signs of illnesses or diseases. If the doctor catches these diseases early, prevention and treatment can save your life. Some of these diseases may continue without detection if not for comprehensive eye exams. The eyes are a good indicator of health in conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

 

Insight on Internal Eye Structure Health

The internal structure of your eye includes the optical nerve, cornea, retina, and others. It is crucial that the doctor checks the health of this internal eye structure. They will shine a light and use lenses to observe how these structures are. If there is an abnormality, they will perform other tests to confirm what it may be.

 

Detection of Age-related Eye Diseases

The internal structure of your eye also helps with the early detection of age-related diseases. These include cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, among others. Although these diseases commonly affect those above 40 years old, it is beneficial to check for them early. You can then receive treatment. Otherwise, it can lead to blindness.


 

For more on comprehensive eye exams and vision screenings, contact Dry Eye Center of Alabama and Family Eye Care at our office in Homewood, Alabama. You can call (205) 490-2322 to book an appointment today.