If you don’t wear contact lenses or prescription glasses, you might think you don’t need to get a yearly eye exam. However, this checkup is crucial for helping you enjoy healthy eyesight. Just like an annual physical at the doctor, an eye exam is a simple procedure that makes a big difference for your well-being.

3 Reasons to Get an Annual Eye Exam

1. Some Eye Diseases Don’t Have Symptoms

Eye diseases like glaucoma don’t have symptoms at first. However, such conditions can result in permanent vision loss. During an eye exam, your doctor can examine the retina, optic nerve, cornea, and eye pressure. These are key areas that reveal whether such diseases are present. If an issue is detected, they can begin a treatment plan.

2. Vision Can Change Gradually

For most people, vision loss happens gradually. Due to this, you might not perceive changes that occur to your vision. Macular degeneration caused by combination of heredity and environmental factors, including smoking and diet, sun exposure and other hazards could have resulted in a progressive decline. You might be surprised at what an eye exam reveals about your visual acuity and systemic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, thyroid, etc.

3. Prevention

It is widely known that prevention is the best medicine. Roughly 80 % of vision impairment is easily treated or prevented. However, to receive this preventative care, you have to go to the eye doctor first. A relatively short exam visit can have a big impact on your long-term ocular health. This can help you avoid serious vision problems later. 

If you need to schedule your annual eye exam, contact Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates in Aiea, HI. Winner of the Best Optometrists Award by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Dr. Endo and his staff can help you maintain healthy eyesight. To learn more about their services or schedule an appointment, visit them online or call (808) 487-5500.