The importance of an eye examination

What does an eye examination include?

The standard eye examination evaluates vision and overall eye health through a series of different tests.

Firstly, your care provider (HCP) will continue your medical history with you. This can include medicines that you use, family history of health problems and whether you wear corrective lenses.

To test how well you can see, most HCPs use a version of the iconic Snellen Vision test. The graph has large letters at the top that are getting smaller to the bottom. The test measures the visual acuity, or how sharp your vision is from a 20 -feet distance. This is where the term “20/20 vision” comes from. The top number refers to the distance – 20 feet – and the lower number is the last line that you can read correctly.

If you are wearing contacts or glasses, your HCP lets you look through a device that is called a refractor or a Phoropter, which has different lenses to determine your recipe.

An eye exam also checks:

• Eye movement
• Eye -pressure
• The front part of your eye (cornea, eyelids, iris and lens)
• Pupils
• Side vision

To check for signs of damage in your retina and optical nerve, the HCP will put drops in your eye that broaden the pupil (dilated). Note: The dilation can make you sensitive to sunlight, so take your sunglasses and someone to drive home.

Who should get an eye examination and how often?

If you have general healthy eyes, the frequency of eye investigations depends on your age.

If you are 20 to 39 years old:

• Buy a complete eye exam every five to 10 years
• Receive annual exams if you wear corrective lenses

If you are 40:

• Get an eye examination even if you have not had previous problems

Get an eye exam after 40 years:

• Every two to four years up to the age of 54
• Every up to three years for people from 55 to 64 years old
• Every to two years for people aged 65 and older

People with a family history of eye disorders, health problems such as diabetes and other risk factors may have to be seen more often than people who have no eye problems. Contact your HCP to see if you need an exam.

Ophthalmologist versus optometrist

Routine eye care can be supplied by both ophthalmologists and optometrists. The difference between the two is the level of training.

Ophthalmologists have medical degrees (MDS) and surgical training to ensure all eye disorders. People with more serious eye problems should see an ophthalmologist.

Optometrists, on the other hand, are not doctors, but have a Doctor of Optometry (OD) diploma and can offer routine exams for eye and vision.

Eye problems found during an exam

Many serious eye disorders have no symptoms in the early stages. An exam can help to diagnose the disease and prevent loss and blindness of vision.

Common eye disorders found during an exam can be:

• Cataract: cloud in the lens of the eye that can cause blurry vision, problems with night vision, sensitivity to light and double vision

• Diabetic retinopathy: an eye condition that influences blood vessels in the eyes of people with diabetes. It can cause floating places, blurry vision and blindness

• Glaucoma: a group of eye diseases that influence the nerve in the back of the eye (optical nerve) and cause loss of side vision and blindness

• Age -related macular degeneration: an eye disease that causes a blurry central vision and can lead to vision loss

Eye exams are also crucial for catching early signs of chronic health problems, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and high blood pressure.

Read: Glaucoma 101 >>

Does Medicare Eye Investigations cover?

Original Medicare plans do not cover eye investigations. Most Medicare Advantage (part C) Plans cover Vision Care, including annual eye investigations and coverage of glasses or contact lenses.