Eye exams are an important part of maintaining good eye health. Even if you aren’t currently having vision problems, having your eyes examined regularly is a good way to ensure that any issues are diagnosed and treated early.
To get the most out of your eye exam with an ophthalmologist, you should be sure to ask them questions about your eye health to be better informed so you can take care of your eyes in the best way possible.
Keep reading to learn more about 6 questions you should ask your ophthalmologist at your next eye exam.
What is an Ophthalmologist?
Ophthalmologists are eye doctors with an M.D. who can diagnose and treat eye conditions. While you may sometimes receive eye exams from your optometrist, they can only test your vision, determine your prescription, and perform basic screening for some conditions.
Ophthalmologists can conduct comprehensive eye exams involving advanced testing and thorough screening to check for signs of eye conditions. During your appointment at Loden Vision Centers, you will have the opportunity to ask your ophthalmologist any questions you have about your eye health and vision.
Here are some questions that can be helpful to ask:
1. Am I At Risk for Any Eye Conditions?
Part of getting an eye exam includes sharing your medical history. Many medical conditions can put you at higher risk for eye conditions.
For example, patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing conditions like diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Taking certain medications can also increase your risk for certain eye conditions.
Patients who take antihistamines, antidepressants, or diuretics have a higher chance of developing dry eye syndrome, and patients who take corticosteroids are more likely to develop cataracts. If you have a medical condition or take medication that increases your risk of developing eye conditions, you should schedule more frequent eye exams.
Spotting signs of eye conditions early can help preserve your sight and prevent permanent damage. Your family’s medical history can be a factor as well.
If anyone in your family has an eye condition, that could increase your risk of developing the condition yourself.
2. How Do I Lower My Risk for Eye Conditions?
Depending on your health and family history, your ophthalmologist may recommend a variety of things to lower your risk for certain eye conditions. For example, if you have a higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, you can discuss taking certain vitamin supplements with your ophthalmologist that have been shown to slow the progression of the condition.
Certain lifestyle changes, such as reducing smoking and maintaining a healthy blood sugar level, may also help reduce your risk. However, the best way to lower your risk of damage and vision loss from eye conditions is by attending regular eye exams with your ophthalmologist.
They can help detect these conditions before they progress, saving your time, money, and sight.
3. How Often Should I Have Eye Exams?
The higher your risk for eye conditions, the more often you should have eye exams, but exactly how often depends on your age and what your ophthalmologist recommends. If you are 40 or older, you should have comprehensive eye exams at least every two years, and if you are 65 and older at least once a year.
This is because many eye conditions are age-related, and your risk of developing them increases as you get older. It’s essential to have routine eye exams because many common eye conditions, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, cause irreversible damage to your vision.
They also typically don’t present any symptoms in the early stages, so the only way to detect them before you experience vision loss is through an eye exam. If you wear glasses or contacts, you should have eye exams yearly to ensure your prescription is up to date.
4. What Visual Symptoms Should I Look Out For?
While regular eye exams are an excellent way to diagnose and treat eye conditions early, it’s also good to watch out for any visual problems. Hence, you know when to see your ophthalmologist outside your routine visits. You can ask your ophthalmologist if there are any symptoms specific to your conditions or risk factors you should stay on the lookout for.
However, you should seek immediate care if you start experiencing sudden onset of eye pain and blurry vision or get an eye injury.
5. How Will My Eye Condition Affect My Vision?
If you’re diagnosed with an eye condition or already have one, you should know what to expect going forward. Your ophthalmologist can provide treatment, but most eye conditions are not curable and can only be managed to prevent or slow further vision loss.
For example, if you have been diagnosed with cataracts, knowing how your symptoms will progress is essential to know when to start considering cataract surgery.
6. Am I A Candidate for a Vision Correction Procedure Like LASIK?
An eye exam is the perfect time to talk to your ophthalmologist about vision correction procedures like LASIK, EVO ICL, and PRK. Your ophthalmologist can help evaluate your candidacy for specific procedures and make recommendations depending on your lifestyle and vision goals.
They can also walk you through all of the steps of the procedure to ensure you feel safe and prepared if you decide to achieve visual freedom with a vision correction procedure.
Are you ready to get the most out of an eye exam with your ophthalmologist? Start taking your eye health seriously when you schedule an appointment at Loden Vision Centers in Nashville, TN, today!
