Do you know what not to do before an eye exam? Are you even getting regular eye exams? If you answered no to one or both of those questions, this article is for you!
In today’s fast-paced world, where screens dominate our lives, the health of your eyes can sometimes take a backseat. However, prioritizing regular eye exams with our Nashville eye doctor is crucial for maintaining your vision and overall well-being. To make the most of those appointments, you’ll need to know what not to do before an eye exam.
Comprehensive eye exams go beyond determining your prescription for glasses or contact lenses; they’re a vital part of healthcare, serving as preventive measures against serious eye diseases and conditions. Below, we’ll talk more about what to expect from a comprehensive eye exam with our Nashville Optometrist, including how often you should schedule them and what not to do before an eye exam.
When you’re ready to book your next appointment, we’re here to partner with you for your vision care needs. We take most major vision insurance plans and have a great optical boutique for your eyewear needs. Book your comprehensive eye exam in Nashville today!
Why You Need Regular Eye Exams
We’ve mentioned the importance of regular eye exams in other articles on our website, but regular eye exams play a significant role in preventative health care. Like getting regular physicals and bloodwork done with your primary care physician, regular eye exams play a valuable role in catching (and sometimes preventing) advanced disease processes.
Many eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, can begin without symptoms. Early detection through eye exams can lead to interventions that may slow or even prevent vision loss. Additionally, eye exams can reveal signs of other health problems, such as hypertension and diabetes, before other symptoms are noticeable.
By scheduling regular check-ups, you’re looking after your eyes and getting ahead of potential health issues. The frequency of eye exams can depend on several factors, including age, health history, and risk factors for eye diseases. As a general guideline, adults should schedule an eye exam with our Nashville Optometrist at least every two years, if not annually. Those with risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, should make annual visits.
What to Expect at a Comprehensive Eye Exam in Nashville
When you get a comprehensive eye exam at our Nashville eye doctor, you can expect us to perform various tests to evaluate your vision and check for disease processes, all of which serve a distinct purpose. Here are some things you can expect from your upcoming eye exam in Nashville.
- We’ll give you a visual acuity test, which measures how clearly each eye can see. This test is the most familiar to our patients and involves reading letters off a chart under different conditions.
- We’ll also use a tonometry test to measure your eye pressure, an essential component of Glaucoma detection.
- Next, we’ll look at your retina by dilating your pupils. Here, we’re looking for signs of retinal disease, crucial for spotting disorders like retinal detachment or other disease processes.
- Finally, we’ll examine the structures at the front of your high under high magnification for signs of common eye conditions, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and more.
What Not to Do Before an Eye Exam
Preparing for an eye exam is mostly straightforward, but for us to be able to run all the diagnostic tests we need, you need to know what not to do before an eye exam. We’ve included a few of the most important things below!
- The first thing not to do before an eye exam is one of the least known! You should avoid wearing contact lenses for at least 24 hours if possible. This is especially true if you’re being fitted for contacts after a prescription change.
- Another tricky thing not to do before an eye exam involves not having your morning cup of coffee. Caffeine can affect your eye pressure, which can sometimes result in inaccurate readings and the need for additional testing.
- Finally, there’s no need to get dressed up for your eye exam in Nashville. Leave off the makeup or creams around the eyes if at all possible, as they can also interfere with certain tests or make it difficult for our Nashville Optometrist to examine the eye surfaces.
Now that you know just how important these exams are and have in mind what not to do before an eye exam, we hope you’ll take the next step and make your appointment. Book your next eye exam with our Nashville eye doctor today.
