In order to maintain decent vision and to keep your eyes healthy you must have routine eye exams. For certain age groups it may be alright to have an exam every two years; however, if you are a senior or have diabetes it is a good idea to be checked every six to twelve months. Be sure to consult your eye care professional regarding the consistency of eye exams that you should maintain.
At this exam your pupils will be dilated so the doctor can see into your retina, your vision will be checked and you will be screened for eye diseases or disorders. If further testing is required a more comprehensive exam and possible testing will be scheduled. If you experience any changes in your vision between regularly scheduled visits with your eye specialist, you should schedule an appointment at the Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha. Early detection of problems and treatment of problems can be the key to preventing loss of vision.
Regular eye exams can diagnose a variety of eye conditions early on and are the best way to preserve good vision. For children, strabismus (crossed eye) and amblyopia (lazy eye) can often be diagnosed and treated in early childhood, avoiding life-long vision impairment. Also, rare eye conditions from birth (like congenital cataracts) can be diagnosed and treated. For all ages, refraction tests can determine whether prescription eyewear would be beneficial, and what power is necessary. Furthermore, many debilitating eye diseases can be diagnosed before noticeable symptoms occur, potentially making the difference between minor damage and major vision loss.
When you make your eye appointment:
When a person calls to make an eye appointment at the Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha, he or she should be prepared to describe any current vision problems. In addition, patients should ask if the eye examination will affect their vision temporarily and if they will need someone to drive them home. They may also want to ask about the cost of the exam, if their insurance plan will cover any of the cost, and how payment is handled.
Charts for Home Use:
Amsler Grid
Click here to download a copy of an Amsler grid and instructions for use.
Snellen Chart
Click here to download a copy of a Snellen Chart for adults.
In preparation for your eye exam:
- Remove eye makeup prior to your eye exam.
- Be sure to bring your medical health and eye insurance information.
- New patients are encouraged to print, fill out medical forms.
- Be prepared to discuss any health problems and/or allergies.
- What are your previous eye diseases, surgery related to vision or previous eye injuries?
- Family history of eye disease. (This is important for eye diseases like Glaucoma)
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are taking (This can be important in cases of cataract surgery).
- List of sports/hobbies in which you participate (This may be important for those seeking LASIK eye surgery).
- For new patients, bring all glasses and contact lenses, your current contact lens prescription or contact lens box or bottle, or previous eye care records including lens specifications.
Children Vision Exams
Some experts estimate that approximately 5 percent to 10 percent of pre-school aged kids and 25 percent 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. Young children without vision problems or risk factors for eye or vision problems should then continue to have their eyes examined at least every two years 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
