Are You Overdue for a Dilated Eye Exam?

Often people think their vision is fine, but when they get that first pair of glasses or contact lenses, they find out what they have been missing.  Possibly improving your eyesight is only one reason too get your eyes checked.  A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to reliably detect many eye diseases in their early stages.

Early treatment can lead to the prevention of some common eye diseases that can cause permanent vision loss or blindness, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy (the leading cause of blindness in American adults), glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration.

Consult with your ophthalmologist or optometrist regarding how often you should get an eye exam based on your age and your family and personal health history.

Children should have a vision screening, which does not include dilating the eyes, by a pediatrician, optometrist or ophthalmologist as least once between the ages of three and five.

Sources:  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Eye Institute