Why are Annual Eye Exams needed?
Each era of life has different eye needs and problems that ranges from vision development in children to age related vision loss in seniors. By addressing things early not only can we prevent problems from worsening but to also improve patient's quality of life because we use vision for so many tasks!
The Benefits of Annual Eye Exams for All Ages
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For Children: Detecting Issues Early. The main concern we have with a child's eye health is their vision development. This is commonly measured by "reading the eye chart." By the time a child is 5 years old, we expect them to already be at 20/20. The pediatrician screenings and the school vision screenings do check for that ability however some kids are clever enough to squint and not raise any flags that would warrant a referral. At the optometrist, we not only check for visual acuity, but also check for binocular vision, stereo 3D vision, color blindness, prescriptions, and eye development. Dr. Pham has seen many lazy eyes that comes to him through screening referrals and also from "passed screenings!" Parents also often bring their kids in when they notice their kids are squinting or having trouble at school to either read or see the school board.
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Adults: optimizing vision and practicing preventive medicine. We live in a technology age and that has only increased our visual demands. This leads to worsening prescriptions or visual fatigue. This is a dynamic time in our lives and there are various ways to optimize vision from outdoor vision to bifocals. Many systemic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes is diagnosed in adulthood and these can cause eye complications. As we enter late adulthood we start worrying about glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and it's important to monitor for these conditions early.
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Seniors: Ensuring vision does what we need as we live longer. Some eye diseases do get worse as we get older and by diagnosing problems when they onset, we can preserve more vision. We have diagnostic imaging and doctors who are trained in disease management that allows us to act sooner. Besides active treatment, eye exams help promote good lifestyle choices as we can support one's choices or address any areas of improvement year to year. There will be a time when patient's will need eye surgery and your long time optometrist will be critical in helping you coordinate with a surgeon.
How to prepare for a routine eye exam
At a routine eye exam, there are various instruments used to evaluate vision. Most offices have an autorefractor which performs a preliminary prescription measurement, a non-contact tonometer to measure eye pressure, a phoropter which most people know as the "1 or 2" machine, a slit lamp which is a microscope to examine the eye structures, and an opthalmoscope to evaluate the retina. Besides those, offices are equipped with diagnostic contact lenses, frame selections, and lenses. Other offices have additional instruments to measure other eye structures or visual function.
A child may be nervous about visiting the optometrist in part because they have difficulty or don't want to show that their eyes are a problem. A good office promotes a no judgement zone and ideally the staff and doctor will perform the exam in a fun and no stress way. Similarly adults may feel they'd be judged if they let a long time elapse from their last exam or if they are non compliant with their previous treatment plans. An office should welcome any patient seeking help to protect their vision, if you haven't found one that supports you, keep searching!
It's a good idea to think about questions you'd like to ask your eye doctor about. There are many things about eyes that people don't realize and there are many solutions to problems too!
Choosing the Right Optometrist for Your Family Eye Care
When looking for an optometrist, the most important thing to look for is how much you trust them. Your eye health is dependent on them being competent and communicable to you. If you can trust their expertise then you can go about without worrying about losing your critically important sense of sight. A doctor's education and training background are good starts; read their bios; read about the office itself to figure out whether patients trust them for everything; and ask local neighbors or family who they prefer and why. Some personalities suit people well while others may not, that may not diminish the optometrist's competency but it's important to establish care with someone who can monitor you over time!
To find an optometrist, ask a trusted individual, there are doctor's who aren't as good at networking but are amazing doctors. Use your insurance provider website to see who's in your network. Google optometrists near you and read their reviews. Drive around an area you frequent, there's a good chance an optometrist is there too. We have patients that drive from the Cypress 77433 area even though we are in Katy!
How to make Eye Care a Routine Part of Family Health
Picking a time of year to get all your medical visits done is a great idea. Some families like to schedule eye exams before the school year starts again. Some like to do it before the new year! Besides actually going to the optometrist, practicing good eye habits such as limiting screen time and wearing glasses or sunglasses are simple things that makes an important difference.
Conclusion: Prioritize Your Family’s Vision Health
Routine eye exams are important to catch eye problems early and optimize vision effectively. Most people rank sight as their most important sense so routine eye exams with a trusted optometrist should be prioritized. If you are looking for a trustworthy optometry office near you, we feel we can earn your trust to protect your vision. Schedule your family to see us today, we predominantly serve the Katy and Cypress communities but we have patients who drive from all over Houston to see Dr. Matthew Pham and his staff, come see why!
About the Author:
Dr. Matthew Pham is a licensed and insured optometrist serving the Houston area. He completed his training at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Through his time at seeing patients first in the Meyerland and West U community he saw patients as young as months old to those in their nineties. In 2024 Dr. Pham opened his own practice to better serve the pediatric population while still seeing any adults who need eye exams in the Katy, Sealy, Cinco Ranch, Brookshire and Cypress area.