Getting an eye exam is one of the best things you can do to ensure the good health of your eyes and detect a variety of vision problems and other eye diseases early when they are more likely to respond to treatments.
A regular eye exam is particularly vital if you’re at risk for visual impairment or eye diseases due to your family history, lifestyle, or other illnesses like diabetes.
Visiting an eye doctor for an eye exam doesn’t need to be intimidating.However, knowing about the eye exam and preparing for it beforehand can put you at ease.
Still unsure of how to get the best of your eye exam? Follow the tips below to ensure the best eye exam possible.
Tip #1 Make a List of Eye Problems You’re Facing
It’s a good idea to make a list of eye problems you’re experiencing so that your doctor can keep your problems in mind while doing an exam and making a diagnosis.
Eye problems that you should make a list of include eye pain, double vision, frequent headaches, seeing flashes of light, blurry vision, and trouble distinguishing between reds and greens.
Tip #2 Know Your Family History of Eye Problems
Some eye problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts, color blindness, and macular degeneration, run in families. So, it’s a good idea to determine if anybody in your family, especially your parents, has had a particular eye condition.
Tip#3 Know Your Eye-Related Medical History
Your recent eye injury or a medical procedure done on your eyes may affect your eyes in one or more ways. So, make sure that you know about the medical history of your eye and gather the record of your recent eye injury or operations.
Also, inform your eye doctor about medical illnesses, let’s diabetes or hypertension, which may affect the health of your eyes.
Tip #4 Take Your Glasses or Contacts with You
Eyes exams allow your eye doctor to correct or adapt to the vision changes. So, remember to bring your current eyeglasses if you wear them.
This tip is especially useful for contact lens wearers because an ill-fitting can irritate the eyes and cause eye problems later.
Tip #5 Bring a Pair of Sunglasses with You
Your eyes will probably be dilated using eye drops for an eye exam. So, it’s a good idea to bring a pair of sunglasses so that after the exam, you can manage the light sensitivity after the dilation and stay comfortable until the drops wear off.
Tips #6 Avoid Coffee or Alcohol
Your eyes can reveal your health issues, such as high blood pressure – and it may surprise you that certain beverages can interfere with the result of your eye exam.
Drinking beverages such as coffee and alcohol can affect your blood pressure – making it higher or lower than usual, which may, probably, affect the results of your eye exam.
Tip #7 Don’t Strain Your Eyes
A vision test is the very first part of an eye exam in which refractive errors are measured, and your need for corrective lenses is determined.
For maximum accuracy of the vision test and other eye tests, you must come with well-rested eyes.
Tip #8 Stay Calm During the Exam
Like any other type of medical exam, you may feel nervous before your eye exam.
For many people, light sensitivity after eye dilation is the most unpleasant exam part. While light sensitivity may be irritating, it may begin to dissipate soon after your exam. So, stay calm and don’t worry unnecessarily.
Tip #9 Come Well Hydrated
Adequate hydration is as important for your ocular health as it is for your overall body. This is because when you’re hydrated, your eyes are more likely to produce enough tears that help you see better and stay comfortable during your exam.
Tip #10 Get Your All Ducks in a Row
Bring all your necessary documents, such as your ID card, insurance card, family medical record, and medical and surgical history record, before the exam. It’s also recommended to bring a list of all the medications and supplements you take, especially the ones that may be linked to your eye health.
Tip #11 Communicate with Your Eye Doctor
Communicating with your doctor about your eye health and other health aspects that may affect your eye health and asking them questions that you have in mind can immensely improve your experience and make an eye exam comfortable for you.
Eye Exam Doctor in Washington, Missouri
If you think you need an eye exam, visit us here at Advanced Sight Center. At our facility, our board-certified and highly trained ophthalmologists conduct eye exams and make recommendations so that you can maintain your eye health and vision.
Our eye doctors also offer nonsurgical and surgical treatment for a full range of eye problems, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic neuropathy, glaucoma, corneal disorders, etc.
To know more about our services or arrange a consultation with our eye doctors, call us today at (636) 239-1650 or use our appointment request form.
