When you have 20/20 vision or prescription glasses that serve you well, you may be tempted to skip visiting the eye doctor. That being said, adhering to a strict schedule of annual eye exams is important to your vision and your overall wellness. If you haven’t seen your eye care team in a while, here’s some insight into why you should schedule an appointment soon.

Understanding the Importance of Annual Eye Exams

What Are the Benefits of Routine Eye Exams?

A comprehensive eye exam gives your eye doctor a chance to detect vision problems early on. By inspecting all areas of the eye, these exams can diagnose eye disease like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration in its early stages, so treatment can begin immediately. Additionally, the examination can catch minor changes in vision to ensure your prescription glasses and contact lenses provide the assistance you require. Beyond confirming eye health, these appointments also have the added benefit of checking in on your overall wellness as other ailments like high blood pressure and diabetes are reflected in your eyes. 

What Can You Expect From Your Visit with the Eye Doctor?

Your eye exam will include multiple tests with different goals. Generally speaking, it will start with a visual acuity screening where you may be asked to read letters or numbers from a chart. Next, you’ll be tested to judge whether you’re color blind. Other tests include depth perception, eye movement, a retinoscopy to determine your prescription needs, and a slit lamp exam, so your doctor can examine eye structures like eyelids, cornea, iris, and conjunctiva. Glaucoma testing and pupil dilation may be performed to measure eye pressure and evaluate whether you’re at risk for certain diseases.

If you call Arkansas’s River Valley home, Lieblong Eye Clinic is your one-stop shop for comprehensive eye care. Founded by resident optometrist Dr. Jim Lieblong in 1979, this vision center believes in providing friendly, hands-on care and the region’s best assortment of designer glasses. To schedule an eye exam, call today at (479) 968-2020. For more information on the myriad of treatment options they offer for dry eyes, glaucoma, or cataracts, visit their website.