For some people, the world is out of their natural eye focus. Whether they are suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, they may require some form of vision correction to enable them to get through the day and accomplish their life goals. New developments in optometry have enabled optometrists and ophthalmologists to apply relevant methods and technology to their practice to correct patients’ vision. Undoubtedly, these new developments have empowered eye care professionals and enabled them to take their patients’ sight to the next level. Here’s the role of an eye exam in Kirksville MO in vision correction.
The eye looks simple and yet is one of the most complicated human organs. It can develop a wide range of problems and diseases; from simple eye problems like dry eyes to more complicated ones like diabetic retinopathy. However, you may not be able to tell if you have of the most common eye problems because they may not present any signs and symptoms at all during the early stages. This is why you should go for an eye exam to enable your eye doctor to detect some of the vision problems you may have before they become complicated.
Recent breakthroughs in optometry in terms of design, performance, and quality of prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses have brought renewed hope to patients with vision problems. Exciting advancements in laser technology and lens implants have also meant that eye doctors will be able to deliver high-quality eye care more safely and professionally than before. The field of vision correction is in continuous evolution and patients need to understand the numerous vision-correction options at their disposal as well as the roles of eye care professionals in providing services that aim to preserve, correct, and protect their vision.
An eye exam can reveal if you are a good candidate for lasik surgery also. If wear glasses or contacts, no doubt you’re thinking that you’re better off without them. For people with common eye problems, corrective glasses or lenses function as an organ of the body. Is it possible to lessen dependence on them?
Refractive surgery is not something new in the field of ophthalmology. This comprises of surgical procedures to help correct common vision problems to lessen the use of corrective devices. Currently, a laser procedure called LASIK has been a popular form of refractive surgery in the United States.
An eye exam is first done by your ophthalmologist to ensure your eyes are healthy enough to undergo the surgery. The pre-surgery exam evaluates the shape and thickness of the cornea, pupil size, refractive errors, or any other co-existing eye conditions. Determining the moistness of the eye is also important if precautionary measures may be recommended to reduce the risk of developing dry eyes. A corneal topographer is used to measure the curvature of the front surface and create a precise map of the cornea. Doctors also take note of the general health history and medications currently taken. Patients are advised not to wear contact lenses two weeks prior to surgery as they may alter the shape of the cornea.
Many people can’t tell the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. However, knowing the difference between the two eye care specialists and the services they offer can help you make more informed decisions about your vision and eye health. Similarly, an eye exam can help you determine whether you need prescription glasses, contact lenses, a lens implant surgical procedure or laser vision correction to help correct your vision. Often, the decision to have a surgical procedure to correct your vision is based on lengthy discussions with your optometrist, ophthalmologist or both. You can only arrive at such a decision after having a series of eye exams to diagnose the problem and establish the most appropriate treatment or vision correction option for your eye problem.
Therefore, if you think you only need to see an eye care professional when you have an eye problem then you should think again. Even these professionals themselves will advise you to go for an eye exam once a year is you want to maintain healthy eyes and vision. Whether you decide to visit an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for your eye exam, that’s upon you, as any of these eye care professionals will carry out a series of eye tests to evaluate your need for prescription glasses and contact lenses. Besides identifying the most appropriate eyeglasses for your vision problem (nearsightedness, astigmatism or farsightedness), an eye exam can also detect complex eye diseases so they are treated early.
