Five Steps To Prepare For Your Eye Exam

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Problematic eyesight and eye-related disorders affect over 13 million Australians. The best way to treat eye issues is early detection which means attending an annual eye exam. Whether you are a first-time attendee or a seasoned veteran, you can take steps before the eye exam that help the optometrist make an accurate evaluation of your eye health. These are the five steps you must take.

Sleep Well

The night before an eye exam, a good night's sleep is critical. Tired eyes from a night out or a late-night television binge may fail the Snellen (letter reading chart) portion of the eye exam. So, make sure you turn the television off early and get a good eight hours of sleep.

Digital Downtime

This step is vital for those who spend a lot of time looking at computer screens for work or school. Unfortunately, constant digital screen use contributes to eye fatigue. That eye fatigue may cause you to fail components of the eye exam. Therefore, if you use a lot of computer technology each day, schedule your eye exam for the morning so that your eyes are fresh.

Caffeine

Many Australians like to start their day with a coffee or two to sharpen their mind. However, increased blood pressure is a side effect of drinking coffee. Be sure to keep this fact in mind the day of your eye exam to prevent your optometrist from seeing inaccurate measurements from your caffeine use. Decaf coffee or herbal tea on the day of an eye exam are better choices.

Keep Calm

Nerves and stress both affect your vision. In a heightened state of stress, your pupils widen and let in more light. Other eye-related stress symptoms are blurred vision and twitchy eyes. All three of these symptoms are concerning signs for an optometrist. Eye exams are non-invasive and not painful, so ask your optometrist for help if you enter the exam in a nervous or stressed state of mind.

Take Current Eyewear

Whether you wear contacts or glasses, taking your current eye corrective lenses to the eye exam helps your optometrist quickly identify any changes in your vision since the last exam. Leaving your eyewear at home lengthens the amount of time the eye exam takes because your optometrist needs to find the correct baseline for your eye needs.

Now that you know how to prepare for an eye exam, you can be confident that your optometrist will examine your eyes in an accurate state. This examination is your best chance to nip all issues in the bud early, so use these steps to ensure your optometrist sees the true health of your eyes.

For more information on eye exams, contact a professional near you.

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3 February 2022

Successful, Fear-Free Eye Exams for Kids

Eye exams aren't always easy for kids. Some kids have social anxiety or fear of doctors. Others may have issues such as extreme dyslexia holding them back from even being able to read the letters on the chart, and you my be worried about what to tell the optometrist. If you are worried bout having a successful eye exam, you are not alone. I have felt the same way in the past. However, after four kids – three of whom own glasses – I have learned how to negotiate the world of optometry with kids. If you have kids, check out these tips. They will get you and your kid through your next appointment.