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Common Myths Associated With Routine Vision Exams

Your visual acuity is one of the most important things to living your everyday life. Therefore, having regular exams at the eye doctor to check your visual capability and vision health is important. As important as a vision exam is, many people do not get these important optometric exams as often as they should. Unfortunately, there are quite a few prevalent myths that get in the way of people scheduling their annual vision exams to keep tabs on their eye health. Take a look at a few of the most common myths associated with vision exams along with the facts that you should know.

Myth: Eye exams are only important for people who wear glasses.

While it is definitely important to have your vision checked periodically if you do wear glasses to make sure that you do not need a stronger prescription, even people who do not wear glasses should have routine eye exams. A visit to the eye doctor for an exam can give you profound insight into your overall visual health.

Myth: You only need a vision exam if you feel like you have trouble seeing.

Changes in visual acuity can happen so gradually that many people do not notice. Therefore, it is important to have your visual acuity tested through a vision exam periodically to make sure there are no changes in your vision. It is not at all uncommon for an individual to visit an eye doctor for an exam and learn that they do need glasses even though they did not suspect that there was anything wrong with their vision.

Myth: Most people only need a vision exam about every five years.

How frequently you should get an eye exam can vary depending on several factors including your age, whether you have experienced visual health issues in the past, and whether you are at risk for certain visual health conditions. In many cases, optometrists recommend that you have an eye exam about once a year as an adult.

Myth: Visual acuity is the only thing checked during an eye exam.

Several things will actually be checked during a standard vision exam beyond how well you can see. The eye doctor will be looking at the internal structures of the eye, for signs of illnesses and diseases that affect the eye, and more. Many conditions that affect the eyes do not have discernible symptoms but can be detected during an eye exam.


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