One of the best ways to stay in control of the health of your eyes and your vision is to attend regular appointments for eye exams with a professional eye doctor. However, these visits aren’t just for testing. They also provide you with the perfect opportunity to get educated on the different aspects of eye care, including learning what you can do to support the long-term condition and health of your eyes as well as preserving your vision for as long as possible.

To help you to do this, here are 5 essential questions that you should ask during an eye exam.
 

1.   What Tests Will You Be Carrying Out Today?

An eye exam involves a number of different elements, and not knowing what to expect can be a little overwhelming or even frightening for some patients. Any good eye doctor will be more than happy to fully explain each of the tests that are being carried out, including what they are for and what will happen. They will also be able to tell you the results/findings of each test as and when they are performed and what they mean for your vision and eye health.
 

2.   Do I Need Glasses Or Contact Lenses To Help Me See More Clearly Or Is My Vision Optimal?

One of the things that your eye doctor will check for at your eye exam is how clear your vision is. A large percentage of the population has what is known as a refractive eye error. This is where the light that passes into the eye isn’t processed properly, causing a mixed message to be sent from the eye to the brain, and this makes our vision appear blurred. If you have a refractive eye error, you will almost certainly need prescription lenses to correct your vision and these come in the form of either glasses or contact lenses. Which you choose tends to come down to personal preference, although there are distinct advantages and disadvantages related to both. Some patients may also like to consider laser vision correction which is a permanent way to address the refractive error that you have. Candidacy for this procedure is assessed separately to your eye exam, although your eye doctor will be able to give you an indication as to whether you are likely to be a suitable patient for laser vision correction. 
 

3.   Am I At Risk Of Developing An Eye Disease?

Early detection of eye diseases is one of the most important reasons why you should make sure that you attend your regular eye exams. Our eyes are just as likely to be affected by the disease as any other part of our body, but many eye diseases do not present with symptoms right away. Others create subtle changes that are easy to overlook or ignore, meaning that unless you get your eyes checked regularly, significant damage could have occurred before you obtain a diagnosis. Your eye doctor can perform a series of tests and examinations to check for early signs of many of the eye diseases that could potentially affect you, including macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, keratoconus and more. Early identification and treatment are crucial to preserving your long-term vision and eye health.
 

4.   Is There Anything Else I Could Be Doing To Protect The Long-Term Health Of My Eyes And My Vision?

We have to take responsibility for every aspect of our health and wellbeing, including that of our eyes. Fortunately, there are many different things that we can do to keep our vision in the best possible condition and our eyes in great health. Your eye doctor will be able to explain to you in detail what positive steps you can take to boost your eye health. Some of the things that you may be recommended could include some of the following:
 

- Wearing sunglasses that have 100% UV protection
 

- Ensuring you use safety goggles for certain activities
 

- Limit your screen time and take regular breaks
 

- Wash your hands regularly and avoid rubbing your eyes
 

- Wear hats on bright, sunny days
 

- Eat a diet that is rich in nutrients that are proven to be good for eye health
 

- Drink lots of water to help keep your eyes hydrated
 

- Remove makeup from your eyes before bed
 

5.   How Often Should I Schedule Eye Exams?

Most eye doctors will recommend that you attend a comprehensive eye exam at least every one to two years. However, your eye doctor will be pleased to give you a personal recommendation based upon your own circumstances. Older patients or those with eye health issues may be recommended to attend more frequently. It is important that you attend as directed by your eye doctor for the greatest benefit to your vision and long-term eye health.
 

For more information about eye exams or to schedule your appointment, please contact our experienced eye care team.