Importance of regular eye exams
- When was the last time you had an eye check-up?
Regular vision screenings can help identify whether you have any problem with your vision. If any irregularities are found, you would be asked to get a comprehensive eye exam to identify the underlying cause or condition for the vision problem that you have. Based on the results, the doctor will then recommend a course of treatment, which could include prescription lenses, eye drops or ointment, and even surgery if the problem is serious.
According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention of Blindness Programme – Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of visual impairment. Avoidable blindness from refractive errors can be prevented by getting your vision screened regularly. A trusted name in quality eye care in Bangalore for the past 35 years, Narayana Nethralaya can help you take care of your eyes and enjoy healthy vision for the rest of your life.
- Children need eye exams only if they have problems with their vision – Myth or Fact?
This is a myth
Poor eyesight due to near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and other vision problems can lead to learning difficulties and reduced reading skills that can interfere with your child’s growth. Regular eye exams can ensure children have normal, healthy vision which can help them perform better at schoolwork and sports.
Around 80 percent of learning comes through eyes and it is very important for children to have clear, binocular, and equal vision in both eyes at an early age for overall development. Parents may not be aware of many conditions that affect their child’s vision, especially in pre-schoolers as children in this age group cannot give us clues of decreased vision, unlike older children. A screening exam can pick up any eye abnormality, and subsequent treatment with vision stimulation exercises can help restore vision.
At Narayana Nethralaya, we strongly feel that regular eye screenings are very important while the child’s vision system is still developing. We recommend routine eye examinations for children at 6 months of age, 3 years of age and 5 years of age.
- Have you scheduled your first eye exam?
Here’s what you can expect at an eye exam
Before examining your eyes, the doctor will get to know your medical history, such as past injuries or illnesses, the medications you are on, and family history of eye diseases which can affect your vision. During the eye exam, a range of simple and diagnostic tests will be used to evaluate your vision and the health of your eyes. The doctor will check the sharpness of your vision, blind spots in your side (or peripheral) vision, your pupils’ reactions to light and close objects, how your eyes work together, alignment of your eyes, the fluid pressure inside your eyes, and whether you need glasses or contacts to improve your vision. Your eyes may also be dilated to allow the doctor to examine the internal structure of your eye for eye diseases and disorders.
At Narayana Nethralaya, experienced and qualified eye specialists, staff, and certified technicians work together to provide superior eye care for patients and help prevent, detect, treat and manage common vision problems. It would be our pleasure to help ensure the health of your eyes for a lifetime.
- Are you over 60 years and experiencing age-related eyesight deterioration?
How often should senior citizens have eye exams?
If you are in your senior years, you may be at increased risk of developing degenerative age-related eye problems such as dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy, which can impair your vision and affect your daily life. Many of these sight-limiting eye diseases cause slow but permanent damage without any noticeable symptoms. Regular eye exams are therefore very important to diagnose these common causes of vision loss that are related to the ageing process among the elderly.
According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention of Blindness Programme – 65% of visually impaired, and 82% of blind people are over 50 years of age, although this age group comprises only 20% of the world population. If you notice any sudden changes in your vision, see your doctor immediately.
Narayana Nethralaya recommends an annual eye exam for senior citizens, which includes dilating the eyes to give the doctor a better look at the interior of the eyes (retina and optic nerve) so that any potential problems can be identified and treated early.
- Eye exams are only for people who need glasses – Myth or Fact?
This is a myth
Strong vision and good eye health is extremely important for everyone, regardless of how old they are, and whether they use glasses or contact lenses. Your eyes can change as you grow older and the risk for developing eye diseases that may cause blindness or other serious eye-related issues also goes up. Early detection from regular eye exams can help prevent or reduce vision loss and improve your chances for effective treatment.
There are various benefits to a comprehensive eye exam
Other than having your vision corrected and ensuring healthy eyesight, regular eye exams can also help detect certain eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, which could lead to vision loss. Serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even cancer can also be detected during a routine eye exam.
About 88.2% of blindness in India is avoidable according to Avoidable Blindness India, a study group.
Narayana Nethralaya recommends dilated eye exams every couple of years for people over the age of 40 to help detect diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and AMD in their early stages. Our experienced and qualified eye specialists are equipped to provide the full range of ophthalmic eye care which includes comprehensive eye exams, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing and treating complex eye diseases, and performing eye surgery.
- Did you know that family history increases risk of glaucoma by four to nine times?
How often should a person with a family history of glaucoma have their eyes tested?
If you have a family history of glaucoma, early detection, through regular and complete eye exams, is the key to detecting glaucoma early and avoiding or delaying vision loss caused by the disease. Though it is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide, there is no cure for glaucoma as yet. Once incurred, vision loss is irreversible. Glaucoma is a condition without symptoms, and remains largely undetected till the advanced stage.
Population based studies conducted in different parts of India estimate that 11.2 million people in India have glaucoma and 1.1 million people are blind due to glaucoma.
Narayana Nethralaya organizes a Free Glaucoma Screening Camp at all four centers every year in order to create awareness about Glaucoma among the general public and to eliminate glaucoma blindness. Our focus is on first degree relatives of patients with glaucoma, who are in the high-risk category. We also recommend a complete exam with an eye specialist every one to two years to detect glaucoma early.
