Eye exams
Although you may have clear vision, only a regular and complete eye exam can guarantee the health of your eyes.
The following information will help you better understand the relevance of the eye exam tests you may undergo during your visit to your Optometrist.
During a complete eye exam, both your vision and eye health will be measured and evaluated through a series of distinctive tests.
Visual Acuity: Measures the eye’s ability to detect details using the Snellen chart.
Refraction: Your Optometrist will carefully measure for the presence of myopia, (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (warped vision due to corneal irregularities) and presbyopia (diminished focussing ability due to age).
Keratometry: Measuring the curvature of the eye's surface is an important test for detecting glaucoma, as well as being crucial for the fitting contact lenses.
Eye movement: Evaluating how well both eyes are aligned or coordinated is very important. Coordinated eyes allow you to have stereoscopic (3D) vision and accurate depth perception.
Vision Myths
Sitting too close to the TV will damage your eyes.
False Apart from the eye fatigue it will cause, sitting too close to watch TV will not cause myopia. However, if you find yourself (or your child) needing to sit close to the TV in order to see properly, it may be a good idea to make an appointment with your optometrist to have your vision tested.
Eating carrots will help you see better.
True Carrots contain beta-carotene that the body turns into vitamin A. The retinal photoreceptors use vitamin A extensively in order to capture light which in turn triggers the vision process.
Alcohol consumption will affect your vision.
True A small amount of alcohol can seriously affect your vision. Even the very first glass reduces your field of vision. Alcohol also reduces pupillary reflexes and affects night vision.
What you eat has no effect on your vision.
False A diet high in fat will increase the risk of blindness. A person whose diet is high in saturated fat and cholesterol increases their risk of macular degeneration by 80%.
Myopia will disappear once you develop presbyopia.
False Presbyopia is a condition that adds itself to what is already developed. Seeing as Presbyopia is caused by the aging of the eye, it affects everyone, whether they have a visual impairment or not.
Laser pointers are dangerous for the eyes.
True If the beam is directed straight into the eye, it may permanently affect vision, especially if it is done in a poorly lit area or at dusk.
