Why Vision Screenings Are No Substitute for a Complete Eye Exam

Vision screenings are limited eye tests that help identify people who are at risk for vision problems. These are the brief vision tests performed by the school nurse, a pediatrician, other health care providers or volunteers.

The eye test that you take when you get your driver's license renewed is an example of a vision screening.

Depending on who is performing the test and where the test is given, vision screenings may include tests for blur, muscle coordination and/or common eye diseases.

Keep in mind that a vision screening can indicate that you need to get your eyes checked, but it does not serve as a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam.

A comprehensive eye examination is performed by an eye doctor and includes careful testing of all aspects of your vision. Based on the results of your exam, we will then recommend a treatment plan for your individual needs.

Remember, only an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist can provide a comprehensive eye exam -- family physicians and pediatricians are not fully trained to do this, and studies have shown that they can miss important vision problems that require treatment.

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Think you don't need to see an eye doctor because your vision is fine? Think again.

Eye exams aren't only for people with poor vision. They're an important way of detecting eye problems before you have symptoms. Eye doctors can also catch other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and many more systemic and eye diseases early.

Routine eye exams are important -- regardless of your age or your physical health. Eye doctors often are the first health care professionals to detect chronic systemic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

As a parent, you may wonder whether your preschooler has a vision problem or when you should schedule your child's first eye exam.

Eye exams for children are extremely important, because 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. Early identification of a child's vision problem can be crucial because children often are more responsive to treatment when problems are diagnosed early.

Remember that appropriate vision testing at an early age is vital to insure your child has the visual skills he or she needs to perform well in school.

A child who is unable to see print or view a blackboard can become easily frustrated, leading to poor academic performance. Some vision problems, such as lazy eye, are best treated if they are detected and corrected as early as possible while the child's vision system is still developing.

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Everyone needs eye exams. Different medical organizations have different schedules. The American Optometric Association suggests:

Children

Children need their vision checked at birth, 6 months, 3 years, and before entering grade school.

Adults

To maintain a lifetime of healthy vision, the AOA recommends a comprehensive eye exam every two years for adults ages 18 to 60, and annual exams for seniors age 61 and older.

"At risk" adults should have more frequent exams.
Risk factors for adults include:

• A family history of eye disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.)
• Diabetes or high blood pressure
• A visually demanding occupation or one that may pose hazards to the eyes.
• Taking prescription or non-prescription drugs that may have visual or eye-related side effects
• Previous eye injuries or eye surgery

Also, anyone who wears contact lenses should have annual eye exams, according to the AOA.

If you have any doubt how often you (or your children or parents) should have your eyes examined, ask your eye care professional for guidance.

When else should you see the eye doctor? If you have any sudden symptoms -- such as sudden vision change, eye pain, or severe irritation -- see an eye doctor right away.

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Dry Eye Disease (DED) / Dry Eye Syndrome (DES):

Overview

Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate and unstable for many reasons. For example, dry eyes may occur if you don't produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears. This tear instability leads to inflammation and damage of the eye's surface.

Dry eyes feel uncomfortable. If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn. You may experience dry eyes in certain situations, such as on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, while riding a bike or after looking at a computer screen for a few hours.

Treatments for dry eyes may make you more comfortable. These treatments can include lifestyle changes and eye drops. You'll likely need to take these measures indefinitely to control the symptoms of dry eyes.

If you have diabetes, regular visits to your eye doctor for regular exams are important to avoid eye problems. High blood sugar (glucose) increases the risk of eye problems from diabetes. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74.

Signs and symptoms, which usually affect both eyes, may include:

• A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
• A sensation of having something in your eyes
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye redness
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Difficulty with nighttime driving
• Blurred vision or eye fatigue

When to see a doctor

If you experience any of the above symptoms or if they seem to be getting worse over time, give us a call and we can evaluate the level and severity of dryness. We can then determine the appropriate treatment to reduce the discomfort and get those eyes feeling better. If you've had prolonged signs and symptoms of dry eyes, including red, irritated, tired or painful eyes.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding or fogging of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens is what allows us to see and focus on an image just like a camera. Although anyone can get cataracts, people with diabetes get these eye problems at an earlier age than most and the condition progresses more rapidly than in people without diabetes.

If you have a cataract, there is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye that results in the inability to focus light, and your vision is impaired. Symptoms of this eye problem in diabetes include blurred or glared vision.

During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed or cleaned out and replaced by a clear man-made lens.

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Floaters / Spots

Floaters are another common eye problem that people have and this can lead to problems with the eye. Floaters are considered specks, strings, or flashes that occur in your vision. In general, floaters are not dangerous, unless they appear to be cloudy or dark in nature. This may indicate a tear in the retina which can lead to blindness.

Floater Cautions:

• Shower of floaters
• Cobweb floaters
• Dark curtain like appearance
• Flashes of light
• Specks
• Threads

Computers and Eye Strain

Staring at computer monitors, smart phones, and video game screens may result in strained, dry, and tired eyes. Luckily, using these devices does not seem to have permanent effects. To prevent eye strain, adjust your computer monitor so that it's 2 feet in front of you. Use desk lighting to reduce glare. Take a break every hour. Spend a few minutes looking at something much farther away than the monitor.

Using computers daily can also cause dry eyes, so be sure to use artificial tears on a regular basis throughout the day.