Are you considering your first visit to an optometrist or a checkup appointment after many years? Do you know what to expect when you schedule an appointment with your optometrist? It is always best to ask the right questions. Doing so will help settle your nerves and give you a better understanding of visual and ocular conditions.

Comprehensive Eye Exams

Regular comprehensive eye exams by an eye doctor are critical to caring for your vision, eyes, and overall health. They are essential to preventive eye health care since many eye conditions have no noticeable symptoms or signs. You might not know an eye problem exists until you undergo a comprehensive eye exam.

Early diagnosis and treatment of various vision and eye conditions can be critical to preventing vision loss. Your optometrist’s professional judgment and your symptoms will help determine the tests to conduct during a comprehensive eye exam.

As such, it would be best if you visited an optometrist at the earliest possible opportunity. Below are some questions to ask to make the whole process easier.

What Tests Should You Expect?

Ask your optometrist what you should expect right when you come in or over the phone when you schedule your appointment. Your optometrist may recommend a comprehensive eye exam. These exams go beyond vision screening. They may vary, but most include several tests, such as:

• Preliminary tests

• Visual acuity

• Keratometry

• Refraction

• Eye movement, eye teaming, and eye focusing

• Eye health evaluation

• Supplemental tests

What Changes Should You Expect As You Age?

An optometrist can help prepare you for vision changes as you age. Your optometrist will assess your eye and vision health and potential risks based on your medical and family history. That will help in determining any necessary preventive measures.

What Do Your Symptoms Mean?

Are you experiencing a vision irregularity or an issue with how your eyes feel or look? Asking this question will guide your optometrist toward addressing your concerns. It would be best if you always took symptoms like eye pain, light sensitivity, redness, flashes of light, and blurred vision seriously.

Inform your eye doctor about any symptoms you are experiencing to help him/her recommend the appropriate steps.

Will Exercise, Diet, or Other Lifestyle Changes Help Your Vision?

A doctor of optometry can provide you with the best tips to keep your vision and eyes strong and healthy in the short and long term. That includes providing guidance on healthy lifestyle choices and sharing the latest eye health trends.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Wearing Contact Lenses Vs. Eyeglasses?

Are you considering making a switch from eyeglasses to contact lenses? If so, your optometrist will walk you through the pros and cons of each option. The optometrist can also recommend the best eyewear brands and help you make the right choice based on your specific needs.

Conclusion

Eye exams are essential regardless of whether you are experiencing symptoms or not. Early detection and treatment of common eye conditions are crucial for your ocular and overall health.

For more on comprehensive eye exams, call Advanced Eyecare Central Coast at (805) 773-6000 to reach our Pismo Beach, California office.