3 Ways Annual Exams Protect Your Vision
Think how much you depend on your vision. That’s why taking proper care of your eyes is so vital. One of the best ways you can protect and improve your vision is to stay up to date on getting your eyes checked. Keep reading to learn why getting your annual eye exam at Key-Whitman Eye Center is so important.
1. It May Be Covered By Insurance
Some patients have preventative coverage or routine eye exams covered by a vision plan once a year. If you have this coverage, you should take advantage of the benefit by the end of the year if you haven’t had an eye exam this year. If you do have a medical diagnosis like diabetes, dry eye, or if you’ve had cataract surgery in the past, your exams should be covered under your health insurance with copays or deductibles applying.
2. You May Not Even Know You Have an Eye Condition
Many eye conditions that threaten your vision have no obvious symptoms. At your eye exam, your doctor will check your vision for common conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. They can recommend the need for a change in your prescription if you wear glasses or contacts, or go over your treatment options for maintaining or improving your vision.
3. Comprehensive Exams Support Your Overall Wellbeing
At Key-Whitman Eye Center, we conduct comprehensive eye exams — not only because your eyesight is vital to your everyday life, but the health of your eyes also plays directly into your overall wellness. Chronic conditions such as diabetes can manifest symptoms in your eyes, such as through diabetic retinopathy. If your eye doctor spots a sign of chronic disease, they may recommend you to your doctor for further testing.
What Happens During My Eye Exam?
Your Key-Whitman Eye Center eye care physician will test your vision and screen you for potential conditions and diseases. We will start by dilating your pupils for a better look at the retina and optic nerve. This may cause your vision to be blurry and light-sensitive for a few hours following your exam — so it’s best to bring a pair of sunglasses, or we can provide temporary sunglasses if needed.
At several of our locations, we may be able to provide Optos imaging which allows for a good look at the retina and optic nerve without full dilation. Ask us when you call for your appointment whether your Key-Whitman office has this available and what the costs are for this testing.
During your comprehensive vision exam, we may also perform:
- Pupil testing, for sensitivity/light response.
- Assessment of the health of the lens, optic nerve, retina, and cornea, eyelids, eyelashes, and tear ducts.
- Glaucoma screening by testing intraocular pressure without that puff of air.
- Peripheral vision testing.
- Corrected visual potential testing using visual acuity and refraction test.
Schedule Your Comprehensive Eye Exam With Our Experienced Medical Team
Our team of Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex eye doctors at Key-Whitman Eye Center is committed to offering advanced and excellent care for our valued patients. We have been serving patients for more than 50 years and we are committed to being the state-of-the-art eye care center. At Key-Whitman Eye Center, you’ll have access to new technology and procedures to help you get your best vision possible. We look forward to seeing you soon!