You use your eyes for everything, from reading a text message to watching a beautiful sunset. Your vision connects you to the world around you. But how often do you think about your eye health?
Our team believes taking care of your vision is a key part of your overall wellness. A comprehensive eye exam is a complete health check for your eyes that looks at both your vision and the physical condition of your eyes. This appointment can help protect your sight for years to come.
More Than a Vision Screening
You’ve probably had a vision screening at school or the DMV. A comprehensive exam with an eye doctor in Northwest Indiana is much more thorough. It gives you a full picture of your eye health.
What a Screening Often Misses
A vision screening is a fast check that often only tests how well you see far away. It can miss many common vision problems. It doesn’t check your eye health, how your eyes work together, or your close-up vision.
What a Comprehensive Exam Checks
This exam is a complete health evaluation. Your eye doctor looks at your vision and the physical health of every part of your entire eye. This comprehensive approach helps find issues early, sometimes before you notice any symptoms.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Your visit is all about you and your eyes. The team makes sure you’re comfortable and understand every step of the process. An exam usually includes several parts.
A Chat About You and Your Health
Your doctor starts by asking about your health history and any vision problems you may have noticed. This conversation helps them get a complete picture of your needs. It’s a great time to ask any questions you have.
Tests for Vision Clarity and Focus
These tests check how sharp your vision is at different distances. You’ll look at charts to measure your sight. The doctor can also use different lenses to find the exact prescription that gives you the clearest vision.
A Close Look at Your Eye Health
Using special equipment, your eye doctor will look at the structures inside and outside your eye. They will also check the pressure inside your eyes. This part of the exam helps find signs of eye conditions.
Will You Need Eye Dilation?
To get a better view of the back of your eye, the doctor may use special drops to widen your pupils. This process is painless, but it can make your eyes sensitive to light for a few hours. You may want to bring sunglasses for your ride home.
Why This Exam Is Important for Your Health
Regular eye exams are a key part of your wellness routine. They do more than just help you see clearly, they protect your health for the future.
- Find problems early: Many eye diseases have no early symptoms, and an exam can detect issues long before they affect your vision.
- Update your prescription: Your vision changes over time, and a new prescription can reduce eye strain and headaches.
- Check your overall health: Your eyes can show early signs of other health conditions. In fact, a comprehensive eye exam can help detect issues like diabetes or high blood pressure, sometimes before other symptoms appear.
Eye Exam Schedules for Every Age
How often you need an exam depends on your age and health. The American Academy of Opthalmology provides general guidelines to help your family stay on track.
Kids & Teens
Good vision is essential for learning and development. Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam between 6 and 12 months of age. It’s also a good idea to schedule exams between ages 3 and 5 and then annually once they start school.
Adults
Between 18 and 64, plan for an exam at least every 2 years. After age 65, you may have to come back to see us at Moses Eyecare Center every year. More frequent exams help monitor for any age-related eye conditions.
Schedule Your Family’s Eye Exams Today
Taking care of your family’s vision is a simple step toward a healthier future. A comprehensive eye exam is a great way to protect your sight and get peace of mind. Your local team at Moses Eyecare Center is ready to help everyone in your family see their world clearly.
We’re here to support your family’s eye health with compassionate and detailed care. You can schedule an appointment at the location most convenient for you. Find your nearest office in Crown Point, Gary, Glen Park, Griffith, Hammond, Hebron, Lowell, Merrillville, St. John, Valparaiso, Portage or Winfield today.
