Importance of Routine Eye Exams

Many people forget about vision care until they have a problem. However, scheduling regular eye exams with our ophthalmologist in Chapel Hill can reduce the chances of developing vision problems and help treat issues quickly before they lead to permanent conditions.

Early Eye Diseases Detection

During your appointment, our doctor will check for changes in your vision and prescribe new lenses if your sight decreases. They will also examine your eyes for early signs of diseases. The most common conditions include cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. These are serious diseases that can lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness without treatment.

Routine, eye exams should take place every year, and people at high risk for glaucoma need yearly examinations and receive biannual eye dilations. If you have diabetes, it's essential to have your eyes dilated yearly to check for retinopathy. Unless there's a problem or concern with eyesight, children should have at least one full exam between the ages of three and five. During the screening, our physician will look for signs of amblyopia, a leading cause of blindness in kids. School-aged children need to see an ophthalmologist in Chapel Hill at least once per year. Outside of regular checkups, contact our Chapel Hill office for decreased vision, eye redness, double vision, pain, drainage, or if you're seeing floaters, halos, and flashes of light.

Eye Exams Can Identify Other Conditions

An exam of the eyes can detect more than just vision problems. The eyes are the key to other common health conditions, and a trip to our ophthalmologist can help catch the problem and get you to the right medical practitioner for treatment. For example, an eye exam can find evidence of:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Autoimmune disorders such as Lupus
• Thyroid disease
• Skin cancer

Contact Chapel Hill Ophthalmology at 919-942-8701

Our receptionist can schedule you for the next available eye exam with our ophthalmologist in Chapel Hill and, if necessary, fit you with a new pair of glasses or contacts.