Comprehensive eye exams are simple and comfortable and are an essential part of overall good health. It goes far beyond correcting blurry vision or prescribing glasses. Thorough eye care and individual treatment will ensure good eye health and vision for a lifetime.

The comprehensive exam is more than just checking your visual acuity. A health questionnaire is given to ask about your family history, your general health, and any medications you are taking. Multiple pre-testing is done with technicians and computers to measure different areas of the eye. The doctors at Albright Eyecare will then use all this information to determine any problems or specific eye conditions you might be prone to developing as well as provide an individual glasses prescription if needed. They will assess the entire health of the eye going from the eyelids and lashes back to the retina and optic nerve. If further evaluation is needed, then it will be scheduled accordingly. Routine annual exams will evaluate vision and any possible prescription needs as well as screen for any diseases of the eye.

Eye exams should be obtained every year, beginning in childhood. Children require good vision for excellent performance and learning in school, as well as successful participation in sports and other activities. Computer and additional screen time may also affect eyesight in people of all ages.

In recent years, it has been noticed that nearsightedness (myopia) is becoming more prevalent in children and at earlier ages. Myopia tends to worsen as the children progress through childhood. Worsening childhood myopia also poses a risk for more severe conditions in adulthood, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Children with myopia should be monitored regularly.

With thorough exams the doctors can sometimes recognize symptoms of serious health problems, such as hypertension, diabetes, or even cancer, while performing regular eye exams. Sometimes, they are the first healthcare professional to notice a problem. All patients diagnosed with diabetes or having a higher risk of developing diabetes need to have annual examinations, as diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in adults. Looking into the eyes at the retina is a strong representation of how the entire body is managing diabetes. If the retina doesn’t look clean then the rest of the organs are likely struggling as well.