As a rule of thumb, patients with no known risk factors for retinal diseases undergo a comprehensive eye examination every two years. However, if they have known risk factors or are nearing the age of 60, they should see their optician more frequently.
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of routine eye exams depends on their accuracy, which in turn depends on the kinds of technology used. While traditional inspection methods have a high degree of accuracy, your optician may recommend high-resolution retinal imaging in addition to the traditional retinal exam if you’re at high risk of developing diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other retinal conditions.
What are the benefits of high-resolution retinal imaging? And why do opticians recommend patients undergo high-resolution retinal imaging in addition to traditional retinal exams?
Convenience – It’s hard for eye doctors to examine your eyes if the pupils aren’t dilated or widened, which is why they’ll give you eye drops to dilate your pupils during a routine eye exam. The eye drops usually take about 15 to 30 minutes to take effect and 4 to 6 hours to wear off. During this time, your pupils will be more sensitive to light. As such, we recommend waiting for a few hours for the effects to wear off before you drive back home.
If you need to go home right after an eye exam or don’t want to experience the discomfort stemming from dilated pupils, you can ask your optician to use a high-resolution optical imaging instead of a dilated eye exam. Unlike conventional dilated eye exams, high-resolution retinal imaging doesn’t require the use of dilated eye drops or any contact with your eyes for that matter. A patient simply needs to look at the device one eye at a time. The scan only takes a second, and a flash will let you know when the device has finished taking an image of your retina.
Important Note: The use of eye drops isn’t normally needed in high-resolution retinal imaging, but it may be needed in special cases such as eye exams before Lasik surgery.
Early detection – Optical high-resolution imaging can provide a more detailed and comprehensive image of your retina. Downtown Eyes uses an Optos® retinal scanner that can capture images showing 82% of your retina in a single scan. Your optician can use more detailed retinal imaging to examine the blood vessels in your retina and detect early warning signs of retinal and non-retinal conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Remember: The earlier a certain eye condition is detected and treated, the better.
Importance Note: High-resolution retinal imaging isn’t a substitute for a traditional eye exam. Rather, it’s an optional but highly effective component of eye exams that can help increase their precision.
Here’s an overview of what a comprehensive eye exam usually entails:
Intraocular pressure measurement – Optometrists will measure intraocular pressure or the pressure created by the fluid in your eyes to check for signs of glaucoma, a condition that’s caused by fluids building up in the front of the eye. The machine used by your optometrist will blow a quick puff of air into your eyes. It can measure the fluid pressure in your eyes’ using its reaction and resistance to the pressure from the air puff. Note that diagnosing glaucoma can be difficult because the conditions progress slowly and the symptoms normally appear during the later stages of the condition, which is why it’s important to see your eye doctor for a routine eye examination.
As mentioned earlier, patients with no known risk factors should undergo an eye examination every two years. However, the frequency of eye exams increases as you age or as your risk for certain diseases increases. In general, it’s recommended that those aged 20 to 39 should undergo an eye exam every five years, those aged 40 to 54 every 2 to 4 years, those aged 55 to 64 every 1 to 3 years, and those aged 65 and above every one to two years.
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Downtown Eyes offers a wide range of professional eye care services, including comprehensive eye examinations and Optos high-resolution retinal imaging services.
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