Our body is made up of different organs and each and every organ is important. It is mandatory to get a complete health check-up done on a periodic basis to ensure that all your vital organs are functioning properly. One such important check-up includes an eye test.
What Is An Eye Test?
An eye test is basically a number of tests that are conducted to check your vision and to find out if you are suffering from any eye disease. Conducted by an ophthalmologist, an eye test is carried out with the help of various instruments, bright lights, and various types of lenses. Different methods are used to determine and diagnose different types of eye problems. Some of the common tests that are part of an eye examination include:
Tests to check the strength of the eyes and muscle control in the eyes. It is a test to check the eye movement and find out if there is a possibility of strabismus (cross eyes).
An external test to check the outside area of the eye and pupillary reactions which means checking how the pupil reacts to light.
Tests that help in checking the vision. The patient is asked to read the alphabet or identify shapes, and other things from close and from a distance.
Tests to check the insides of the eye which include iris, lens, cornea, and anterior chamber.
Apart from these, there are various other eye tests also conducted, such as a retinal test, tonometry which is done to check the pressure within the eye, visual field test which helps in identifying particular areas of vision loss, and so on.
Why Is An Eye Test Important?
Your eyesight is extremely important and hence, requires the utmost care. Many of the eye problems can be easily treated if they are detected immediately. An eye test helps in finding out about an eye problem in its early stages so that it can be treated successfully. Going for regular eye check-ups will help you correct any vision problems as well as provide expert tips on how to take good care of your eyes.
When Should You Get An Eye Test Done?
Below is a brief guideline on when should you get an eye test done.
For children who are aged 3 years or below, the pediatrician will usually conduct an eye test to rule out problems such as a cross or misaligned eyes, and lazy eyes, amongst others. If in case your child faces any eye problems, you should get a comprehensive eye test done for them until they reach the age of five.
For school-going children, an eye test should be done before they start their first grade. You can have an eye exam done once every two years, provided the child does not suffer from any eye problem. In case the child does have some kind of vision issue, then you must follow your doctor’s advice.
For adults, the frequency of eye check-ups increases as they age. For people who are in their 20s and 30s, an eye test should be done once in five to ten years, for those who are in their 40s and 50s, it should be done once every two to four years, for those who are in their 50s or beyond, the ideal timeframe is once in one to three years.
As mentioned earlier, it is imperative that you get an eye test done on a regular basis to avoid any kind of minor/major eye problem. Leaving it unchecked can lead to minor problems such as vision correcting glasses to major problems such as loss of vision. All this can be easily avoided if you get your eyes checked in time.
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