When Should I Go To Ophthalmologist..!
How To Care About My Contact Lenses..!
When should I see
an ophthalmologist?
You should have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist if you have:
·
decreased vision, even if
temporary;
·
new floaters (black
“strings” or specks in the vision);
·
flashes of light;
·
a curtain or veil blocking
vision;
·
haloes (colored circles
around lights);
·
an eye injury or eye pain;
·
bulging of one or both
eyes;
·
crossed eyes;
·
double vision;
·
loss of peripheral (side)
vision;
·
diabetes mellitus;
·
AIDS;
·
thyroid disease-related eye
problems (Graves’ disease);
·
a family history of eye
disease.
You should also see an ophthalmologist if
your family doctor, pediatrician, or internist refers you to one.
When there are no particular problems,
recommended intervals for eye examinations are:
·
Newborn, pre-school and
pre-teen:
Eye exams should be given by a pediatrician,
family doctor, or ophthalmologist at the following intervals:
·
newborn to three months
·
six months to one year
·
three years old
·
five years old
·
later as needed
20 to 29 years of age: At least once during
this period
40 to 64 years of age: Every 2 to 4 years.
65 years or older: Every 1 to 2 years
What happens during
an eye examination?
Your ophthalmologist and his or her
assistants ask about your current symptoms and review your medical
history. Eye drops to dilate your eyes may or may not be used during the
exam.
The examination typically evaluates:
·
visual acuity;
·
need for eyeglasses or
contact lenses (refraction);
·
eyelid health and function;
·
coordination of eye
muscles;
·
pupil response to light;
·
side (peripheral) vision;
·
intraocular pressure
(pressure inside the eye);
·
the anterior segment in the
eye;
·
The interior and back of
the eye.
What treatments are available for my eyes?
Your ophthalmologist will discuss the
results of your eye examination with you. If your eyes are healthy, you
may need only eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision. Or
you may not need any vision correction at all.
Some eye diseases are treated with
medication, such as eye drops or pills. Other diseases may require laser
surgery or other surgical procedures.
Your ophthalmologist can provide you with
the treatment you need or, in some cases, may refer you to a
subspecialist.
Some eye conditions cannot be cured.
Nevertheless, your ophthalmologist can offer counseling and support
while monitoring your condition. Good medical care is based on a
cooperative relationship between you and your doctor. You should trust
your ophthalmologist to give you accurate information about your eye
problem and tell you about the risks and benefits of treatment options.
You should also trust your ophthalmologist to keep your personal
information confidential and to provide care with courtesy and respect.
Your role in this cooperative relationship is to ask your
ophthalmologist questions about your problem and treatment options and
tell him or her about any other health factors that may affect your
condition.
Loss of sight can be
prevented! Many
eye diseases do not cause symptoms for months or years. Therefore,
regular visits to your ophthalmologist are as important as regular
visits to your family physician. In many cases, early treatment of
glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, crossed eyes, and some forms of macular
degeneration can prevent loss of sight and even blindness.
Together, you and your ophthalmologist can work toward the goal of protecting your sight through early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions.