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Does my insurance cover an eye exam?
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Please remember, it is up to you to familiarize yourself with your insurance benefits. Your health plan mandates that you are financially responsible for payment of all co-pays, deductibles, and non-covered services, and The Everett Clinic is contractually obliged to collect them.
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What will happen during an eye exam?
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Your eye examination will typically include an evaluation of your vision and ocular health. You will be asked questions that relate to any visual or ocular problems you may have. Measurements will help determine any need for corrective wear such as contact lenses or glasses. Your ocular health will be checked for things such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration or other disorders. Eye drops may be used to enlarge (dilate) your pupils to facilitate viewing of the inside of your eyes. Medication may be prescribed for ocular problems or a referral may be suggested for conditions requiring further intervention, such as cataracts.
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How do I know if I need an eye exam?
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Most people should get their eyes tested every 1-2 years routinely. If you have had a sudden loss of vision or change in vision in one or both of your eyes or your eyes are red or painful you should be seen right away.
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My vision is fine – why should I get an exam?
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An eye exam will check your vision to see if you need glasses to help you see better but will also look for any problems with the health of your eyes. Vision can change gradually over time so even when you feel like your vision is fine it may have changed enough that glasses will improve your vision. Even more importantly an eye exam will check for any health problems in your eyes including cataracts, glaucoma or any circulation problem in the back of the eye (the retina). Often when these problems are found there are no symptoms. As with many things the sooner problems are found the better the long term outcome.
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Will my eyes get worse by wearing my glasses too much?
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There is no evidence to support that anymore than wearing shoes too much will worsen the feet. At young ages, it is important to wear the glasses as much as possible so newly forming nerves for vision can be properly developed. Later on, wearing glasses more often helps prevent eye strain and possible headaches from seeing blurry.
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What steps can I take to prevent my vision from getting worse?
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Most, if not all, of the reason we need a correction such as glasses is due to genetics. The biggest control we all have in preventing worse vision is sound health practices. Avoiding trauma to the eye from UV light by wearing sunglasses when appropriate. Good nutrition to prevent diabetes – which can have a significant effect on the eyes. Having routine eye examinations including a dilated eye evaluation. Eyes WILL change over time, the best we can do is stay on top of the changes.
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When should my child have their first eye exam?
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Your child should have his or her first eye exam done by a pediatrician sometime during year one of the child's life. If you or your child's pediatrician decides that their eyes should be further examined, make an appointment with a pediatric vision specialist. After that, your child's eye exam should be before entering kindergarten, or by age 5. Your child should receive a comprehensive eye exam at least every year or two. School screenings are helpful to detect any severe vision problems early, but your child should still see an eye doctor if there are any symptoms or if he or she fails the screening test.
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Does it make a difference where I get my glasses?
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Your doctor’s prescription is just one factor in determining how well you see through your glasses. The quality of the lenses used and the fit of the frames can greatly influence your clarity of vision and comfort with your glasses. A skilled optician can help you select the best materials for your budget and ensure they are made properly.
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