Book an eye exam before problems start
Regular eye exams are as important as all your other health checkups. Find out how to make the most of your visit with the eye doctor.
This article is part of UnitedHealthcare Vision’s Healthy Vision Challenge. Taking care of your eyes is critical to your overall health and wellness. It’s smart to be thinking about the quality of your vision all the time, not just when your eyes are bothering you or your experiencing changes. If you can make these behaviors part of your everyday routine, you could have healthier eyes for life.
If you’re like many Americans, you probably haven’t seen an eye doctor recently. Even 40% of people who are at risk of losing their eyesight put off their eye exams, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,1 But taking care of your eyes is as important as taking care of the rest of your body, when it comes to staying healthy.
Here’s why: An eye doctor (either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist) checks more than just your eyesight. An eye exam can also uncover the damage done inside your eyes by conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, says Angelica Cifuentes, O.D., an optometrist in Miami.
Even if you’re healthy and have 20/20 eyesight, an eye exam is an excellent idea. It can establish a baseline so future problems can be spotted earlier, notes Jen Wademan, O.D., an optometrist in Folsom, California. “An eye exam is a good way to be proactive about your health,” she says.
If you haven’t had an exam in a while, don’t worry — it’s never too late to get started. The first step is scheduling your appointment. This guide can show you what to expect, how to prep and when to book the next one.
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What takes place during an eye exam
Once you’re in the exam room, expect the following:
Questions about your medical and vision history. This includes your overall health as well as any problems with your eyes, such as infections or dry eyes, says Cifuentes. You’ll also get asked about your family’s medical history. Certain eye diseases such as glaucoma can run in families.
Visual acuity test. Eye charts are how optometrists check how accurate your eyesight is. The chart is placed 20 feet away and you read the letters aloud as they get smaller. Near vision is also tested while holding a card with letters held at a specific reading distance. If you see everything clearly, you have 20/20 vision.
Refraction exam. This is the part of the eye exam where your doctor will determine your prescription based on your refractive error as well as check your eye focus and how they function together.
Together, these tests can show if you have myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) and/or any other refractive errors — and whether you need glasses or contact lenses or qualify for refractive surgery to correct the problem.
Tests to check how healthy your eyes are. This part of the exam involves a slit lamp machine (a microscope that illuminates and magnifies the front surface and parts of the back of the eye). There are drops to numb and tint your eyes so the optometrist can check eye pressure. Then, you’ll get drops to make your pupils bigger (called dilation), which makes it easier to check the back of your eye (the retina). The drops take about 15 to 20 minutes to take effect, says Cifuentes. You may be tempted to skip this part if you’re short on time, but it’s not recommended — these tests are important.
- An eye pressure test checks whether there’s fluid building up inside the eye. It’s the best way to screen for glaucoma. This is a serious silent and progressive eye condition that can cause blindness over time if not treated properly.2
- Looking into the back of the eye lets the doctor see the retina and other tissues. “Through dilation, we have a direct view of someone’s veins and arteries,” Cifuentes says. That’s why an eye doctor can spot a disease such as diabetes or hypertension before you even know you have it, she adds.
Expect an eye exam with dilation to take about 45 minutes, says Cifuentes.
How to prepare for your eye exam
Ask your parents and siblings about any eye issues in their medical history, if you don’t already know about them. Write down the answers and bring them to your appointment.
Also bring these items along, recommends Cifuentes:
- Your glasses or contacts, if you wear them
- Your previous prescription for glasses or contacts, if you have one
- Sunglasses to wear home after your pupils are dilated (you’ll be very sensitive to sunlight)
When to book your next eye exam
Even if you passed your eye exam with flying colors, think about scheduling the next one. That way, your provider can check how your eye pressure and the backs of your eyes change from year to year, explains Wademan.
How often should you see the eye doctor? The American Academy of Optometry updated their guidelines in March 2023, and it now recommends that all adults ages 18 to 64 get an annual eye exam.3 For adults ages 65 and older, it’s also once a year — or possibly more often, depending on risk factors.
Being at risk includes everything from wearing contact lenses to having a chronic health condition such as diabetes. It also includes having a family history of eye disease, such as macular degeneration. Talk to your optometrist about what’s right for you.
So now you know. Your stay-healthy plan needs to include a regular checkup of your eyes. Think of it as another way to practice self-care.
Looking for a new eye care provider? Search the UnitedHealthcare Vision Network now.
Sources:
- Four in 10 US Adults Are at High Risk for Vision Loss Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last reviewed March 2020.
- Glaucoma American Optometric Association.
- New AOA Adult Eye Guideline Offers 14 Actions, Provides Fresh Insight on Exam Frequency American Optometric Association, March 2023.
