Regardless of your age or physical health, it's important to have regular eye exams.
During a complete eye exam, our Bellevue eye doctor will not only determine your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but will also check your eyes for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together as a team and evaluate your eyes as an indicator of your overall health.
A comprehensive eye exam at Great Vision Northwest includes a number of tests and procedures to examine and evaluate the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision. These tests range from simple ones, like having you read an eye chart, to complex tests, such as using a high-powered lens to examine the health of the tissues inside of your eyes.
What to Expect
The best way to protect your vision is a yearly comprehensive eye exam. When you arrive at our office, you will be greeted with friendly faces. Each eye exam will use the latest state-of-the-art technology to assess your eye health. The doctor will inspect your eyes, answer questions, and discuss your eye care treatment options. In addition to determining your vision prescription, our doctor will test your color vision, depth perception, and check for any early indicators of possible eye conditions such as cataracts, retinal problems, and glaucoma.
Our goal is to have each patient leave satisfied knowing that they are receiving the best eye care products and services possible. We have answered a few frequently asked questions regarding eye exams below.
Why is my personal background important?
In order to better tailor the eye examination to your needs, our doctor may review any current vision problems, your general health, as well as discuss your hobbies and lifestyle requirements.
Why does the doctor ask me, “Which is better: one or two?”
While evaluating your prescription, the doctor will ask you to compare a series of lenses to determine which allows you to see clearer. As the differences become less noticeable, the doctor will be closer to finalizing your prescription. If you’re having a hard time choosing between the options, it means you’re almost done with this part of the exam!
Why is it necessary to know my blood pressure?
In addition to other health concerns, high blood pressure can affect the blood vessels in your eyes, which could lead to future vision problems.
Why am I asked to follow a light with my eyes?
This part of the exam helps determine how your pupils and eye muscles react and assists in gauging neurological function.
Is it necessary for the doctor to dilate my pupils during the exam?
Although pupil dilatation is not always necessary, the doctor may make this decision during your exam. If required, this painless process is like opening a door so the doctor can fully examine your retina. Dilation can assist in detecting diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and macular degeneration.
Eye care experts recommend you have a complete eye exam every year to asses your risk for potentially damaging eye conditions, as well as to keep on top of any changes in vision you may be experiencing.
Vocation or Avocation?
Pediatric Eye Exams In Bellevue WA
Some experts estimate that approximately 5% to 10% of pre-schoolers and 25% of school-aged children have vision problems. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), all children should have their eyes examined at 6 months of age, at age 3 and again at the start of school. Children without vision problems or risk factors for eye or vision problems should then continue to have their eyes examined at every year throughout school.
Children with existing vision problems or risk factors should have their eyes examined more frequently. Common risk factors for vision problems include:
- premature birth
- developmental delays
- turned or crossed eyes
- family history of eye disease
- history of eye injury
- other physical illness or disease
The AOA recommends that children who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses should have their eyes examined at least every 12 months or according to their eye doctor's instructions.
Book Your Eye Exam At Great Vision Northwest
The AOA also recommends an annual eye exam for any adult who wears eyeglasses or contacts. If you don't normally need vision correction, you still need an eye exam every year. Doctors often recommend more frequent examinations for adults with diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders, because many diseases can have an impact on vision and eye health.
If you are over 40, it's a good idea to have your eyes examined every one to two years to check for common age-related eye problems such as presbyopia, cataracts and macular degeneration.
Because the risk of eye disease continues to increase with advancing age, everyone over the age of 60 should be examined annually. Read more about Vision After 60.
