Download Eye Health Information

Eye Health Information
When it comes to your overall health, your eyes
matter. Whether you see clearly or not, it’s
important not to overlook routine eye care.
Regular eye exams allow your eye care specialist
to correct any vision changes, detect eye
problems at the earliest stage, and even catch
other health conditions — like diabetes or high
blood pressure — that may have gone
undetected.
Image: blog.rinkoveyecare.com
Common eye diseases

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — a leading cause of vision loss in the US.
AMD destroys the macula (the part of the eye that provides sharp central vision needed
for seeing objects clearly). By age 80, 1 in 10 Americans has advanced AMD and it is
more common in women than in men.

Blindness — “Partial blindness” means you have very limited vision and “complete
blindness” means you cannot see anything and do not see light. People with vision that
is worse than 20/200 with glasses or contact lenses are considered “legally blind” in
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most states in the U.S. Some people are born blind, but most blindness in the U.S. is
due to age, disease, or accidents.
Image: EyeWorld.org

Cataract — a clouding of the lens in the eye that
affects vision. Cataracts are very common in older
people, as most cataracts are related to aging (by
age 75, approximately half of all Americans have
cataracts). Cataracts can also be caused by
medications, other medical conditions.
Smokers have a significantly higher risk of developing cataracts compared with nonsmokers.

Diabetic retinopathy — the most common diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy. A
leading cause of blindness in American adults, diabetic retinopathy is caused by
changes in the blood vessels of the retina (a healthy retina is necessary for good vision).
Hispanic Americans age 50 or older are at higher risk for developing this disease in
comparison to others.

Glaucoma — a disease that happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye.
That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, causing damage to your eye’s optic
nerve. It is estimated that 3 million Americans have glaucoma, but only half of them
know they have this disease. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over
60 years of age.
Refractive errors and common eye conditions

Hyperopia — also known as farsightedness, hyperopia is a refractive error that is usually
present at birth and tends to run in families. Objects that are at a distance look
somewhat clear, but objects that are closer appear more blurred. Common signs include
difficulty reading small print, fatigue, or headaches at the end of a work day, or burning,
achy eyes after focusing on near objects.
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
Image: fromdoctor.com
Myopia — also known as
nearsightedness, myopia is a refractive
error in which close objects look clear, but
distant objects appear blurred. For
example, a child may be able to clearly
see the book in front of him but have
difficulty reading what’s on the whiteboard
at a distance. About 1 in 4 Americans
have this common eye condition. Myopia is often discovered in children when they are
8-12 years old, but it can also occur in adults.

Presbyopia — a refractive error that usually happens around age 40 in which the eyes
are not able to focus on near objects causing them to appear blurry. Many people with
presbyopia wear eyeglasses with bifocal or progressive lenses on a regular basis, or use
reading glasses when needed (such as for reading a book or embroidery).

Astigmatism — a refractive error caused by the irregular shape of the cornea or
curvature of the lens inside the eye. Astigmatism causes blurred vision at any distance
and frequently occurs with other vision conditions, such as nearsightedness and
farsightedness. Most people have some degree of astigmatism, but slight amounts
usually don’t affect vision and don’t require treatment. Larger amounts of astigmatism,
however, can cause eye discomfort and headaches, and therefore should be treated.
Image: MedicalNewsToday.com

Dry eye — people with dry eyes do not produce
enough tears and/or have a poor quality of tears. This is
a very common and often chronic problem, especially in
older adults and is more common in women than in men.
Causes for dry eyes include medications or by medical
conditions, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, or vitamin A
deficiency. If left untreated this condition can lead to pain,
ulcers, or scars on the cornea and some vision loss.
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When should I get my eyes checked?
Your age, health, and risk of developing eye problems
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determine how often you should have your eyes
examined.
Before a child enters the first grade, a professional eye
specialist should examine him/her and reexamine every
two years. This is especially important given that vision
is closely linked to the learning process. Children often
don’t complain of vision problems because they don’t
know what “normal” vision looks like. If your child
performs poorly at school or experiences trouble
reading, schedule a professional eye exam.
In general, adults should have their eyes examined every 1-5 years by an eye specialist,
especially if they already wear corrective lens or have eye disease. If you have never had an
eye exam and are over the age of 40, schedule a complete eye exam to rule out any eye
disease — even if your vision is clear.
Remember, these are general examples; based on your specific needs, your health provider
and/or eye specialist will inform you on the frequency of your eye exams.
Vision Screening vs. Complete Eye Exam
Vision screenings are general eye tests meant to help identify people who are at risk for vision
problems. However, they are not the same as comprehensive eye exams and should not serve
as a substitute for a complete eye exam. Though a vision screening test at the DMV will help
you get your driver’s license, it cannot detect eye diseases that can lead to loss of vision. The
same goes for children: a vision screening test at school can help identify which children need
corrective lenses, but the vision problem will only be corrected after a comprehensive vision
exam is performed by a licensed professional.
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Eye care specialists
1. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who provide full eye care — including a
comprehensive eye exam, prescription of corrective lens and medications, diagnosis
and treatment for complex eye diseases, and surgical procedures. Ophthalmologists
are medical doctors (M.D.) whose postgraduate training includes 4 year of medical
school, residency and internship training, and an additional 4-5 years of
postgraduate training in ophthalmology.
2. Optometrists provide comprehensive eye exams and prescribe corrective lens, but
also diagnose and treat common eye diseases. If you have a more complex or
severe problem, or need surgery, your general health practitioner or optometrist may
refer you to an ophthalmologist (see above). Optometrists have a Doctor of
Optometry (D.O.) education that includes 4 years of post-graduate doctoral training.
3. Opticians fill prescriptions for eyeglasses. They assemble, fit, and sell eyeglasses
and contact lens. Opticians have a 1 or 2-year degree or certification. Many
ophthalmologists and optometrists work alongside opticians to meet a patient’s
complete vision needs (eye health and eyewear).
What to Expect at Your Eye Exam
During an eye exam, your eye specialist will review your medical history and complete a series
of tests to determine the health of your eyes and evaluate your vision. If you wear prescription
glasses or contacts, bring them to your appointment.

Retinoscopy. This test may help determine your prescription. You will be given a large
target to focus on, typically a chart with letters, while a small light is directed at your eye.
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
Refraction. With this exam, your eye specialist determines your exact vision prescription
(if you are farsighted, nearsighted, have astigmatism or presbyopia). Your eye specialist
will place an instrument in front of your eyes and show you a series of lens choices.

Cover Test. During this exam, your eye specialist will check the alignment of your eyes
by having you focus on an object at a distance while covering an eye.

Slit-Lamp Examination. This exam allows
Image: stantonoptical.com
your eye specialist to examine the health
of your eye. The doctor will shine the
lamp into your eye to check for cataracts,
corneal ulcers, diabetic eye disease,
macular generation and other eye
conditions.

The Glaucoma Test. With a glaucoma test, your eye specialist will measure the pressure
inside your eye. The most common glaucoma test is when a machine blows a small puff
of air towards your eye.

Visual Field Test. This exam checks for possible blind spots in your peripheral vision.

Dilation. Your eye specialist may place dilating drops in your eyes to make the pupils of
your eyes bigger, allowing him/her to get a better view into the internal structures of your
eye. Your eyes will be sensitive to light for a few hours after the exam, so bring along
sunglasses or a driver for your trip home.
Tip: If you know you will be shopping for a new pair of glasses,
arrive early to your exam so that you can shop around before you
have your eyes dilated. Dilated eyes will make it harder for you to
pick out a new pair of eyeglass frames.
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Will I need glasses? Can I use contact lens?
If you have vision problems, your eye specialist may prescribe glasses and/or contacts, or
recommend laser eye surgery, to correct your vision. Your options will be determined by your
health, your stylistic preference, and your daily needs/hobbies (computer use, outdoor
recreations, etc.). Please note your prescription is unique to your vision needs, therefore you
should not share glasses/contact lens. You may consider getting a cheap pair of “backup”
glasses in case something happens to your primary pair or you need to temporarily stop
wearing contact lenses.
Image: bostonzest.com
Your Prescription
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that eye
care practitioners provide patients with a copy of their
eyeglass and/or contact lens prescription upon
completion of an eye examination. Eye doctors who
violate the rule are subject to a civil penalty of $10,000.
This is so that you can have the freedom to purchase eyewear or contact lens directly from your
doctor’s office or elsewhere, such as if you find that another provider has a better selection
and/or better prices. Keep in mind that prescriptions do have an expiration date (usually 1-2
years after initial exam date), so make sure to get your prescription filled before then. If your
prescription is expired, or you experience new or worsening symptoms, contact your eye
specialist’s office to schedule an appointment.
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Bibliography
“Common Eye Disorders.” Vision Health Initiative. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basic_information/eye_disorders.htm
“Difference between an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Optician.” American Association for
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/132
“Eye Health Statistics.” American Academy of Ophthalmology.
http://www.aao.org/newsroom/eye-health-statistics
"Statistics and Data." National Eye Institute. The National Institutes of Health.
https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata
“Why Are Eye exams Important.” Think About Your Eyes.
http://thinkaboutyoureyes.com/articles/prevention-care/why-are-eye-exams-important
“Understanding Your Prescription.” Frames Direct. Frames for America.
http://www.framesdirect.com/landing/a/understanding-your-prescription.html
Joni and Friends can assume no liability in the recommendation of any product, service or organization,
nor does this constitute an endorsement.
© Joni and Friends, 2016
Used by permission of Joni and Friends
P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376
www.joniandfriends.org
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