Everyone needs to visit an eye care specialist, whether they have healthy vision or eye disease. You should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam yearly or as often as your doctor recommends to avoid risking your sight.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who have attended medical school and can diagnose and treat eye problems, including performing eye surgery. Click the Maryland Eye Care Center to learn more.
A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to make sure that your vision is healthy and that any potential problems are detected early on, before they can cause serious damage. The eye doctor will ask you about your family history of eye disease, any medications you take, and any other health problems you have. Then, he or she will perform a series of tests. These will include visual acuity testing (using a chart placed 20 feet away to check your distance vision by covering one eye at a time) as well as photoscreening, which uses a camera to identify refractive errors and other abnormalities in the eye.
The doctor will also use a slit lamp to examine the eyes’ structures, including the cornea, iris and lens. He or she may also use fluorescein dye to detect irregularities on the surface of the eye and the surrounding tissues. Other important tests include a measurement of fluid pressure inside the eye (tonometry) and an assessment of your peripheral vision, 3D vision and color perception. In addition, refraction testing is conducted to determine your corrective lens prescription. This involves looking through a variety of lenses in a device called a phoropter and being asked to read letters on an eye chart.
Many insurance plans cover routine eye exams at least once a year, and some even offer coverage for more in-depth examinations if you’re at risk of developing certain conditions like glaucoma. In addition, community organizations like Lions Club International host regular group eye screening events to provide free comprehensive exams for those who don’t have access to health or vision care coverage. In the United States, you can also get help with the cost of an eye exam through non-profits and private organizations like AARP or the National Eye Institute.
Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses correct vision problems by compensating for refractive errors and other issues that cause blurred or distant objects to look blurry or far away. They’re usually made of clear glass or plastic lenses held in place by rims that wrap around your temples, nose and ears. Your prescription determines the exact type of eyeglasses you need.
There are two main types of eyeglasses: single-vision and multifocal. Single-vision glasses help with distance issues, while multifocal lenses, such as bifocals and trifocals, have correction on multiple areas of the lens to help with distance, near and intermediate vision, like reading.
The frames and lenses of your eyeglasses can be crafted with a wide range of colors, shapes and textures. You can also choose special coatings to reduce glare or halos from light. Polarized lenses, for example, block the sun’s harmful UV rays and are ideal for sports, outdoor exercise and driving. Anti-reflective lenses eliminate glare and reflections, making the lenses appear nearly invisible. They’re great for people who want to reduce the need to squint, which can lead to eye fatigue and tension.
Frames come in a variety of styles to suit your face shape, complexion and personality. They’re available in a range of materials, including titanium and stainless steel for strength and durability. Plastics, such as polycarbonate and trivex, offer a lighter, more flexible and safer option than glass. They can also be tinted to enhance color perception and improve contrast for many activities, and they are often available in self-tinting versions that change from clear to dark depending on the light’s intensity.
Your prescription should be updated yearly, especially for children, because eyes grow and change over time. Regularly clean your eyeglasses with water and a non-lint cloth to keep them looking sharp. If you experience discomfort where your lenses touch your nose, cheeks or ears, visit your eye care professional for adjustment or repair.
Contact Lenses
Over 45 million people in the United States wear contact lenses to improve their vision. These thin, curved discs rest on the surface of your eyes and correct refractive errors that prevent light from landing properly on your retina. Contacts are more comfortable than glasses and don’t interfere with most activities.
New materials make contact lenses less likely to dry out or irritate your eyes. You can choose from daily disposable contact lenses or monthly contacts. Both require regular care and cleaning to keep them clean and safe. Some people try to save money by using saline solution instead of the lens cleaner prescribed by their contact-lens fitter. However, homemade solutions can be contaminated and spread bacteria or other germs that cause severe irritation or even blinding infections.
Some contact lenses are designed to be worn overnight (extended-wear). Sleeping with your contacts in can deprive your cornea of oxygen, increasing your risk for eye infections. Your eye doctor will recommend a maximum length of time that you can safely leave your lenses in each day.
There are many different types of contact lenses available, including hard and soft. Rigid gas-permeable lenses allow more oxygen to reach the surface of your cornea and are more durable than soft contacts. They are also better suited to certain eye conditions, such as astigmatism.
Scleral contact lenses vault over the cornea, resting on the white of your eye. These specialty lenses are often prescribed to individuals who were unable to wear traditional contacts due to dry eye or other corneal problems. If you’re interested in trying contact lenses, schedule a comprehensive eye exam from an AOA contact-lens certified specialist to determine the best prescription and type of lens for your unique eye health needs.
Refraction Tests
A refraction test is one of the main tests that eye doctors conduct during an eye exam. It helps them determine the correct prescription that a patient will need for his or her eyes to have 20/20 vision. It is important to have this test done because it allows patients to get the glasses or contact lenses that they need for healthy eyesight.
During a refraction test, the doctor will lower a large tool that is usually covered in dials and switches, called a phoropter. It will have different lenses of varying strengths. The patient will then look through the lens and try to read letters or numbers on a Snellen chart that is displayed in front of them. The doctor will then ask the patient which set of lenses provides them with the clearest vision. This is the most accurate way of measuring a person’s refractive error, allowing him or her to find the best pair of glasses for their eyesight.
The refraction test also detects conditions like astigmatism, which causes light to refract incorrectly in the eye and leads to blurry vision at all distances. It can also detect presbyopia, an age-related condition in which the aging lens inside the eye loses its ability to focus on close objects. Lastly, the refraction test can also identify amblyopia, which is also known as lazy eye.
In addition to refraction testing, an eye care center offers many other diagnostic tests. For example, they can test for glaucoma by delivering a burst of air to the surface of the eye and seeing how much it flattens. They can also perform an ophthalmoscopy and a slit lamp examination to see the interior of the eye.
Eye Surgery
Many people require eye surgery to treat a variety of conditions. Some types of eye surgeries focus on reshaping the cornea or implanting a lens, while others treat the actual eye disease. The specific type of eye surgery you require depends on your medical history, vision needs and lifestyle. Eye surgery is a highly specialized field, and you should discuss the best options with your ophthalmologist.
Some doctors offer refractive surgery to correct the common vision problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These surgeries refocus light correctly onto your retina, which then turns the light into visible images on your brain. Refractive surgery may help you reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses.
During a refractive surgery, your surgeon will put eye drops in your eyes to numb them. They will then place an eyelid holder with a suction cup over your eye to prevent you from blinking and hold the eye open. This feels like a finger pressing on the surface of your eye. After the eye is numb, your surgeon will use a device called a microkeratome or a laser to make a paper-thin flap in the cornea tissue. The surgeon will then lift the flap and use a laser to reshape the cornea.
The doctor will then cover the eye with a shield to protect it from dust and debris and prevent you from bumping or touching it. Your ophthalmologist will give you medications to take at home to prevent infection and inflammation. It can take three to six months for your vision to stabilize after refractive surgery. You should avoid strenuous contact sports during this period to keep your eyes safe from getting hit or bumped into.