Why should you get an Annual Eye Exam?

Many people tend to think their eyesight is perfectly fine, it's usually not until they get their first pair of glasses or contact lenses that the world comes into a much clearer view—everything from reading the menu at a restaurant to driving safely that was once difficult to do suddenly is no problem at all! 

In the United States alone, an estimated 8 million have vision impairments due to uncorrected issues in vision that could’ve been improved with the use of spectacles. Improving and maintaining your eyesight is important, about 11 million people over the age of 12 need vision correction—this is only one of the many reasons why annual eye exams are in your (and your vision’s) best interest.  

Prevention 

Annual eye exams are not just to check if you’re currently experiencing issues in your vision, they also play an important role in finding eye diseases early on and act accordingly to help preserve your vision long-term.  

Eye diseases are very common and can go unnoticed for extended periods of time—some people don’t even experience any major symptoms at first. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is performed by an optometrist or even an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). This exam is necessary for catching eye diseases in the early stages when treatments used to prevent vision loss are most effective.  

It Can Change Your Life 

Since eye exams play such a huge role in preventing eye diseases and vision issues, it's no surprise that by getting your eyes checked out regularly you're less susceptible to common eye diseases or even permanent vision loss or blindness. Some of these diseases include:  

1. Cataracts - A clouding of the eye lens and is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. 

2. Diabetic retinopathy - Causes damage to your blood vessels in the back of your eye and the leading cause of blindness in American adults. 

3. Glaucoma - A group of diseases that damage your optic nerve, and Age-related macular degeneration, also known as the gradual breakdown of light-sensitive tissues in your eyes.  

We know what you’re thinking – none of this sounds fun. This list of diseases is just another reason why you should get your annual eye exams.  

How Often Do I Need To Get Eye Exams? 

It’s important to remember that age does play a significant role in how often you should get your eyes examined and is a factor in how at-risk you may be for contracting some of the eye diseases and other vision problems mentioned before.  

Children’s eyes for example should be checked regularly by an eye doctor or pediatrician. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends vision screenings for all children at least once a year between the age of 3 and 5 years to screen for any potential risk factors for disease. People of older ages are at a higher risk of developing an eye disease or issues in vision, so it’s recommended that people aged 65 or higher have an eye exam done at least once every 1-2 years.  

 If you don't have any symptoms or vision problems, doctors recommend getting regular eye exams based on the age group you fall into:  

• Ages 20 to 39: Eye exam every 5 years.  

• Ages 40 to 54: Every 2 to 4 years.  

• Ages 55 to 64: Every 1 to 3 years.  

Fuse Lenses 

Finding eyewear that’s effective, stylish AND affordable can sound too good to be true, but here at Fuse Lenses, it’s entirely possible! At Fuse, we have a variety of lenses that block 100% UV rays, which helps with the prevention of eye diseases and vision issues. With over 54 different lens options including Polarized, Blue Light and even Prescription, the possibilities are endless when you choose Fuse! Protecting your eyes and vision starts with wearing appropriate eyewear, starting at just $24.99 for our standard lenses and $39.99 for polarized. Fuse offers high-quality, optical grade, yet still affordable lenses for daily use! 

Conclusion  

Eye exams are definitely not something you want to go extended periods of time without having done. They serve as a tool for prevention of eye diseases and other vision issues and people of all ages can benefit from these annual checks. With the use of appropriate eyewear and annual exams, you can help in the prevention and early detection of vision problems and your eyes will thank you for it!