As with any aspect of your health, your vision is critical to your overall well-being and day-to-day function. So, you must keep it as healthy and vibrant as possible. This is where an optometrist (OD) can help you and your family.
Let’s talk about the impact of optometrists on your health and where you can find the best optometrists in Washington, MO.
Optometrists Perform Eye Examinations
Just as you see your dentist every six months for a hygienic cleaning and oral examination of your teeth and gums, you should see your optometrist every one to two years for a vision check-up if you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 55. Kids can go every other year, and seniors should see the optometrist annually–more often if they have diabetes or an age-related vision problem.
What’s so special about an eye exam? Frankly, your optometrist does a lot more than determine if you need corrective lenses. As important as glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses are to protect your eyes and to correct astigmatism, nearsightedness, and more, your vision exam tells you if your eyes are healthy. Plus, by thoroughly examining your eyes and surrounding structures, such as the tear ducts and eyelids, your optometrist can see if you may have:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Thyroid eye disease
- Many metabolic conditions
The old saying, “The eyes are the windows to the soul,” is so true. By simply examining your corneas, sclera, pupils, and the highly vascular retina and macula at the back of the eyes, your optometrist can identify threats to your overall health and suggest ways to correct them. Optometrists also can refer you to medical specialists outside their own practices.
The Optometrist Writes Prescriptions and Performs Vision-related Therapies
If you have an eye infection, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), your optometrist can prescribe the medication appropriate to treat it. The OD also can help people with low vision improve how much and how well they see, remove foreign bodies and perform minor procedures, such as opening the tear ducts.
Additionally, your optometrist has invaluable advice about eye safety, including how much daily screen time you should have, how to protect your eyes in the sun and during sports, and more. He can advise you on nutritional supplements and foods that boost visual acuity and help avoid or forestall conditions related to aging, such as macular degeneration.
The OptometristEducates You
What vision symptoms should you be alert to? Much depends on your age, vision health history, and overall health, too. However, in general, your optometrist will tell you to watch out for:
- Blurred or double vision (double vision is called diplopia)
- Redness and excessive tearing
- Dry eye symptoms, such as irritation
- Eye pain that does not resolve quickly
- Spots or floaters in the field of vision
- Sudden changes in visual acuity
- Extreme sensitivity to light
Also, with an eye examination, your optometrist can accurately tell if you need corrective lenses and what the prescription should be. You will know if you are a candidate for contact lenses and if laser vision correction could be right for you.
Your Optometrist in Washington, Missouri
At Advanced Sight Center, our highly experienced and talented optometrist Dr. Becky Lory is committed to providing the highest quality vision care to people of all ages located in and around Washington. Our eye center also has board-certified ophthalmologists who provide comprehensive and individualized care for a wide range of eye problems.
If you think it’s time for you to get some eye care, make an appointment with our compassionate and talented optometrist by calling us today at (636) 239-1650 or using our convenient online request form.
