Talking About Optometry For Kids

Top 3 Questions to Ask Your Eye Doctor

14 October 2016

Amelia Dunn

Has it been a while, or perhaps forever, since your last eye exam? Have you decided to make an appointment, and now you don't know what to ask when you get there? Visiting an eye doctor is the best way to care for your eye health. But just like with any other type of doctor, asking the right questions will help lead to a better understanding of your health and what is expected. Some of the best questions to ask include the following.

How often should I return for an eye exam? For many people, a yearly eye exam may be sufficient. But if your family has a history of glaucoma or other issues, you may be in need of more frequent checks. In order to determine how often you should return, eye doctors have a series of questions to ask about your health and your family history. The more risk factors that you have, the more often the doctor will suggest that you return for a check-up of your eyes. To help preserve your eyesight, make sure that you follow these recommendations and return when suggested.

Is there anything that can be done to keep my eyes healthy? Sometimes, your eyesight may start to deteriorate for genetic reasons. Other times, you may have difficulty with your eyesight because of environmental factors. When you are talking to eye doctors, they should clarify what, if anything, can be done to keep your sight in good condition for as long as possible. Even if you are genetically prone to poor eyesight, there may be some things that you should either do or avoid entirely to help preserve your sight. For example, hypertensive retinopathy is the name for damage caused to your retina by high blood pressure. Your eye doctor may recommend a number of lifestyle changes to help you avoid suffering from this condition.

Can I just buy reading glasses from the store? As you get older, you may find it more difficult to see things that are close. In some instances, eye doctors will say that it's perfectly fine for you to pick up a pair of cheap reading glasses at your favorite store. But if you have a unique eye shape or if your eyes need different prescriptions, this may not be such a good idea. Even though generic glasses may help you to see better, you could suffer from dizziness or headaches from wearing the wrong prescription. If your eye doctor says that you need actual prescription glasses, he or she is trying to preserve your eye health and isn't just trying to get more money out of you.

Make an appointment with a healthcare organization such as California Eye Specialists Medical Group Inc. to get started improving your eye health.

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