Often, people do not take eye care seriously. Most rush to the eye doctor when their symptoms worsen. Common eye problems may include floaters, halos, blurred vision, and blind spots. Such issues can be from damage to the eye, diabetes, medication, or aging. It is critical to understand what routine eye care is.

Annual Eye Exams

Annual eye exams are essential for persons of all ages. They help adults maintain the right prescription for their eye needs. They also enable your eye doctor to detect vision problems or eye diseases for early treatment. 

Children need to go for these routine eye exams because they cannot speak up if they have a vision or eye problem. Annual eye exams will help the doctor determine whether your child is susceptible to eye diseases. Doing so will help you know the course of action to mitigate further vision problems.

Eye Dilation

Viewing the structures at the back of the eye can only happen when your pupil dilates. Dilation works by using eye drops. It may take up to 30 minutes to fully dilate your pupils. 

Your eyes can take four to six hours for the effect of the eyedrops to wear off, causing the pupils to return to their original size. Once your eyes dilate, you may experience an increase in light sensitivity as the eye allows more light in than usual. Most patients experience blurry vision.

Your eye doctor can diagnose conditions such as glaucoma by getting an optimum view of your optic nerve. Dilated eye exams help detect retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Many eye conditions need eye dilation for detection. Your doctor can see an ocular tumor, retinal tear, or detachment if they can see the structures at the back of your eye.

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

Your eyes are a vital part of your body. When they are unhealthy, the quality of your life changes for the worse. Routine eye care entails living a healthy lifestyle fit enough to have healthy eyes. Below are some of the things you can incorporate into your life to ensure your eyes remain healthy:
 

• Wear sunglasses

• Eat a nutritious, balanced diet

• Reduce your screen time

• Use safety eyewear

• Regular eye checkups

• Quit smoking

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Exercise regularly

Glaucoma Tests

The health of your optic nerve ensures you have good vision. Glaucoma results from damage to the optic nerve. The damage is from a buildup of pressure inside your eye. The condition usually affects people later in life. You may not have pain or symptoms during the early stage.

Further and gradual damage of the optic nerve causes permanent vision loss. Vision loss due to glaucoma is irreversible. However, you can keep your remaining sight by lowering your eye pressure. Most people who go for regular eye exams and take their treatment plan seriously maintain their vision. Early detection is critical for effective management.

Take Steps to Avoid Eye Infections

Contact lenses are unique because they need the user to practice good hygiene for the safety of their eyes. Wash your hands before handling the contacts. Replace them as necessary and follow instructions from your eye doctor on keeping them clean and hygienic.

For more about routine eye care, visit Raleigh Eye Center at our offices in Reidsville, Durham, Raleigh, North Carolina, or South Hill, Virginia. You can also call (919) 876-2427 to schedule an appointment today.