There are many facets to eye care Boulder and elsewhere, but not everyone
needs all of them. In fact, most people will only need a few of the possible
services beyond an eye exam. This exam is the one thing everyone should have on
a regular basis because it allows eye doctors to learn whether or not each
person needs anything else.
There are two types of eye exams that are commonly available. The most basic
version simply tests visual acuity and is used to determine eyeglass
prescriptions. When people want to get a pair of glasses made quickly, they are
usually given this type of exam.
The other type of eye exam is far more detailed, and it is used to find out
whether any eye diseases are present. Patients can expect to have their pupils
dilated so that the doctor can see down to the retina from the outside. Viewing
the retina allows the detection of problems like degeneration, retinal tears,
and similar things. Air will also be pulsed against the eyes to test how much
pressure is within them. This part of the test lets doctors find out whether or
not glaucoma is present. A visual acuity test will be done before the pupils
get dilated. Once the dilation is done, the ability to focus will be
temporarily blocked. This makes it important to do everything in the right
order.
If any problems are discovered, the appropriate treatments will be
prescribed. In many cases, eye problems can be fixed. Even some forms of
glaucoma can now be treated by surgery, whereas in the past, there were no such
options.
Patients who were once told that their conditions were untreatable should be
sure to continue to get checkups. That way, they can take advantage of any new
developments that have come along. As it stands, some of the things that were
totally untreatable 20 or so years ago can now either be cured or at least
helped by new procedures and medications. Who knows what will be possible five
or 10 years from now?
While full-service eye clinics offer advanced treatments and surgical
options for a variety of conditions, most people will get even better news from
their eye exams: they will have no major problems to worry about. Even so, it's
important for people with good eyes (or who only need glasses) to get regular
checkups. This will ensure that any emerging problems are caught quickly so
that vision can be preserved.
