When should I start having eye exams?

 If you’re like most Americans surveyed in a recent Harris Poll, you probably thought you would notice a change in your vision if you had an eye disease. The fact is some of the leading causes of blindness—such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy—can begin without any symptoms. That’s why the American Academy of Ophthalmology urges all healthy adults to get an  eye exam at age 40, even if their vision seems fine. Early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to happen at this age.

“Even if you think you have 20/20 vision, set up a time to get your eyes checked. It may save your sight,” said Dianna Seldomridge, M.D., clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Need more motivation to have your eyes examined? Here are four good reasons to see an ophthalmologist:

1. Your brain adapts to vision loss, making some eye diseases go unnoticed until it is too late. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored. Ophthalmologists can spot eye disease before vision is compromised and protect your sight.

2. Seeing an ophthalmologist can improve not just your eye health, but your overall health. Because the blood vessels and nerves in your eye are reflective of the rest of your body, ophthalmologists are sometimes the first to diagnose diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or vitamin deficiencies.

3. Your eye health is dependent on different factors, including family history, ethnicity, age, and overall health. An ophthalmologist can help evaluate your personal risk factors and recommend the best steps for disease prevention.

4. Eye disease is also a looming problem for the U.S. healthcare system. As our population ages, the number of people afflicted with vision loss is expected to double by 2050.

For more tips and information, visit www.eyesmart.org.

Author

Dr. Christopher Weaver Christopher D. Weaver, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.O., is a general ophthalmologist specializing in surgical and medical treatment of diseases of the eye, including the following: cataracts and cataract surgery, medical, surgical, and laser treatments for glaucoma, surgical treatment for eyelid lesions, diabetic eye exams, and comprehensive ophthalmology. Dr. Weaver completed his ophthalmology residency as chief resident in ophthalmology at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was awarded the prestigious Kenneth Tuck Award in 2015. Dr. Weaver is a graduate of SUNY Upstate Medical University, College of Medicine, where he received numerous academic honors and awards, including graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2012, induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and Gold Humanism Society in 2011, and receiving the Excellence in Clinical Skills Award in 2010.