Your Eyes Have It
A yearly eye exam is a must, the American Optometric Association asserts, but for some people it gets pushed aside for more (seemingly) pressing obligations. It's crucial to make time for regular exams. New York-based optometrist Dr. Andrea Thau, a spokesperson for the association, said, "We use our vision every waking hour to navigate space, and if your visual health is not optimal, your brain and body are working harder to go through life."
Why Examine the Eye?
Obviously, healthy eyes mean good vision and top performance at work and play. Magnifying tools help medical professionals, looking into the eyes, see exposed blood vessels. Nowhere else on the body can blood vessels be observed without an incision.
"Looking at these vessels can tell an optometrist volumes," said Thau, an associate clinical professor of optometry for the State University of New York. Doctors can spot signs for diseases like hypertension, high cholesterol, sickle-cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and a host of other disorders. It's also not rare to turn up psychological problems: A tumor on a particular part of the brain is a danger sign. "In my career," said Thau, "I have spotted primary melanoma in the eye -- essentially saving these patients' lives."
Vision Correction 101: The Basic Terms
To understand lenses -- both in eyeglasses and contacts -- and their role in vision correction, you'll need to know these basic terms:
• Nearsightedness (also called myopia) occurs when an image comes into focus before it hits the retina. Convex lenses that push the image further back into the eye solve this problem.
• Farsightedness is simply the opposite -- the object you are looking at comes into focus too far back on the retina. A concave lens corrects this.
• Astigmatism is a vision problem caused when a patient has a misshaped eye. It is corrected with special glasses that echo the structure of the cornea to achieve clear vision.
New York-based optometrist Andrea Thau and Lexington, Kentucky-based optometrist Dr. Paul M. Karpecki note that contact lenses have made significant advances in the past few years. One improvement is the greater softness achieved by using silicone. If you tried contacts but gave them up more than two years ago, you may want to give them another try.
A Must-Do for Computer Users
Sitting at a desk and staring at a computer takes up a big part of the workday for many people, and it can put a big strain on the eyes.
"We are made to look at three-dimensional objects," said Thau. "Your visual system is over-focusing when you look at a screen for too long, and it can spasm, like an auto-focus camera locked into one depth. Sometimes you need glasses to help fix the situation."
To help reduce computer-induced strain, place the computer so that the top of it aligns with your natural field of vision. Thau also recommends following the "20/20/20 rule": Every 20 minutes take 20 seconds to focus your eyes on something 20 feet away. This practice gives eyes a much-needed rest.
What to Expect from an Eye Exam
The American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive exam each year. During the appointment, the optometrist or eye doctor will take a complete medical history and measure the clarity of your vision. You'll undergo a test of your refractive status -- which tells exactly the type of vision correction needed -- as well an assessment of your eyes' fine motor skills, tracking and focusing. A physical exam will also be conducted.
Tests will determine whether your eyes dilate properly and if the inter-ocular pressure is too high -- a condition that can indicate glaucoma, which causes damage to the structure of eye. If you have a family history of glaucoma, an additional visual field test will be conducted to measure your peripheral vision.
The significant eye diseases that are screened for, according to Dr. Paul M. Karpecki, an optometrist in private practice in Lexington, Kentucky, are "glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, growths and tumors."
Prevention Is Key
Karpecki points out one key step you can take to keep your eyes in top shape. "We have known for years that UV light causes skin damage," he said. "Eyes are even more susceptible when you're young. In the sun, wear UV-protective contacts, sunglasses and hats."
Shielding your eyes from the sun's rays is a simple way to cut down your odds of macular degeneration and glaucoma, and to keep your peepers healthy for years to come.