Eye tests play a hugely significant role in making sure your eyes stay healthy. Not only are eye tests important for checking whether you need to start wearing glasses or need to change your prescription, but also for detecting some common medical conditions such as diabetes! An eye test is recommended at least every two years.
Your eye doctor will usually conduct a basic eye examination that will consist of an external check of your eyes, the eyelids and the surrounding areas. Parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva, sclera, cornea and iris, will also be inspected for signs of disease.
Some eye diseases such as high eye pressure leading to glaucoma have no symptoms in their early stages, so you may not know you have a problem until the disease is in its later stage. This can make treatment more difficult and the problem harder to reverse. Therefore, regular eye exams are essential for early diagnosis and treatment of any problem. Early detection and treatment can slow down or even reverse the progression of eye disease.
If you have a risk factor for eye disease (are diabetic, have high blood pressure, have a family history of eye disease, or are taking prescription medications which may affect the eyes) you should see your ophthalmologist more frequently. Ask your eye doctor for the ideal interval between check-ups!