Regular eye exams are an important part of maintaining overall health. Eyes can often reveal not only vision problems but other health issues as well. Even if you feel like you have a perfectly fine vision, you may still be at risk for “silent” problems like age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, or glaucoma.
What to expect from an eye exam
Before your appointment, write down a list of questions or concerns you have about your vision that you would like to ask your eye doctor. Bring your eyeglasses or contacts and be ready to share the types of medications you currently take.
During your eye exam, the doctor or a staff member will ask you a series of questions about your family and vision history. Some eye issues are genetic, so your answers to these questions are valuable in ascertaining your current eye health. The exam will last from 30 minutes up to several hours depending on the tests that need to be taken and the type of equipment used.
Some of the eye tests your doctor may administer include: visual field test, pupil dilation test, pachymetry test, retinal examination, glaucoma test, or refraction testing. Your doctor may include additional tests depending on your needs.
How often you need an eye exam
Newborns have their vision tested at birth, along with other vitals that are initially taken. After that, they will have vision tests at their regular doctor appointments. After a child reaches the 1st grade, they will need their eyes checked every 1 to 2 years. The regularity of adult eye exams depends on your age and your family history. If you are over the age of 40, you may need routine eye exams every 1 to 2 years. If you are younger than 40 and have no eye complications, you may only need an eye checkup every 2 years. Your doctor will recommend the best course of action for you.
Schedule an appointment
If it has been a while since your last eye exam, call Dr. Sondheimer today to schedule an appointment. Our office can be reached at Skokie, IL (847-677-2794), Deerfield, IL (847-677-2794) and Park Ridge, IL (847-696-7643). We look forward to hearing from you.