Patients turn to eye doctors to diagnose and treat a range of eye-related conditions and diseases that affect vision. Notably, ignoring even the subtle symptoms can cause severe eye problems, such as permanent or temporary vision loss. Therefore, you should always consult an eye expert, such as an optometrist, for proper diagnosis and treatment. This article offers tips to patients when preparing for an eye examination.

Signs and Symptoms

Although an optometrist can perform several tests to detect eye problems, it is always easier when a patient helps the professional in the diagnosis process. Therefore, you should always be vigilant regarding changes in your vision, which might be a pointer to eye-related conditions. Some of the signs and symptoms you should look out for include dryness or watery eyes coupled with itchiness. Also, blurry vision, headaches, eye pain, distorted vision, light sensitivity, poor perception of depth and difficulty visualising things up close are common symptoms of eye problems. Make sure that you tell an optometrist all the signs you have for a correct diagnosis. Besides, it is advisable to inform an optometrist about any eye medication or previous surgeries and injuries.

Family Medical History

Some eye conditions and diseases are genetic, and thus, passed down from parents or grandparents. Therefore, you should find out if your family line predisposes you to eye conditions. The most common genetic disorders that affect the eye include glaucoma, colour blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa.

Vision Acuity Test

Based on the information you provide, an optometrist might deem it necessary to perform an eye chart or vision acuity test, which evaluates the sharpness of your vision. The test is designed to measure a patient's vision of near and far-off objects through various lenses. An eye chart test is vital for people who require a change of lenses or patients who want to get started on eyeglasses. You must be honest with your doctor to help them prescribe the correct lenses.

Retinal Imaging

The retina is a critical part of the eye that receives and organises visual information. A retinal imaging test is performed using laser technology by taking a digital picture of the back of the eye, comprising the retina and blood vessels. The examination helps an optometrist check the overall health of the eyes and establish diseases affecting the back of the eye. Most importantly, the test can establish eye conditions from the onset.

Talk to an optometrist to learn more about eye care.

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