Laser refractive surgeries, especially LASIK, probably constitute the most significant advance in modern eye care. In less than 15 minutes, a patient’s vision can be completely and permanently restored more than 96% of the time. It is no wonder then, that in 2020 alone, more than 700,000 people in North America committed to this elective surgery.
As much of a perfect solution for vision loss as laser eye surgeries are, they do not make your annual eye exams with your optometrist redundant. That is because eye exams do more than just detect vision impairment; they also allow your eye doctor to look for eye diseases that can develop regardless of your laser eye surgery. In fact, neglecting visits to your eye doctor under the misconception that your laser-corrected eyes are invulnerable to eye diseases is not the right mindset.
For comprehensive eye exams for you and your children in Calgary, choose one of the Blink Eyewear’s clinics in Creekside, West Springs, or Crowfoot. All of our locations are staffed with competent optometrists with knowledge and experience managing overall eye health. Book your eye exam today, especially if you have not received one since your laser surgery!
The Benefits Of Annual Eye Exams
If annual eye exams only tested your visual acuity, then they would be unnecessary after laser refractive surgery. However, sight is only one of the components measured during an eye exam. Neglecting an annual or bi-annual optometry appointment means that you are missing opportunities to diagnose some of the most common and severe eye conditions at an early stage.
Here are some dangerous eye diseases that a timely annual exam can detect:
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions characterized by damage to the optic nerve. It is probably one of the most threatening eye conditions as it is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60. Even if it is most common in older people, glaucoma should be regularly tested for simply because of its grievous effects on vision.
Furthermore, glaucoma often settles in without warning. Early symptoms, characterized by various forms of worsening vision, are so gradual that you may not even notice them until you start experiencing late-stage indicators. Regular eye exams can catch glaucoma in its early stages. While the condition is irreversible, your eye doctor can still help you slow down its progression and prevent complete vision loss.
Macular degeneration: Another pernicious eye condition that laser refractive surgery does not prevent is macular degeneration. It represents the gradual deterioration of the central portion of the retina (macula). While macular degeneration does not usually cause blindness, it can cause severe vision loss. Some forms of macular degeneration can affect children and young adults.
Macular degeneration is difficult to detect without regular eye exams. The disease usually begins with one eye, meaning that the other one will compensate for the loss of vision. As such, you may not notice the condition until both eyes are affected. Like glaucoma, macular degeneration is irreversible. Early detection can help your eye doctor mitigate vision loss.
Surgery-induced conditions: Eye discomfort can linger up for months after laser refractive surgery. However, in some cases, these side effects can persist. Dry eyes and the incomplete healing of the cornea can be permanent. New problems can arise over time too, namely the loss of visual quality and cataracts.
If you are experiencing any of these issues, an eye exam will help your optometrist identify the cause and come up with a solution to manage it.
Calgary's Eye Exam Specialists
Laser refractive surgery can be a miraculous cure for vision restoration. But it does not guarantee comprehensive eye health; protection from some of the most damaging eye conditions, including glaucoma and macular degeneration. Regular comprehensive eye exams will reduce the risk that an eye condition develops undetected.
Take good care of your eyes. Book an eye exam with Blink Eyewear at one of our Calgary locations in Creekside, West Springs, and Crowfoot. Our optometrists are extensively trained to administer comprehensive eye exams to both children and adults, ensuring the ocular wellness of your whole family. Call us at 403-516-2292 or fill out the online contact form to get in touch with us.
FAQs
Q: How often should I come for eye exams?
A: The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends an annual eye exam for any patient who wears eyeglasses or contacts. If you don’t normally need vision correction, you still need an eye exam every year. Doctors often recommend more frequent eye examinations for people with diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders, because many diseases can have an impact on vision and eye health.
Since the risk of eye disease continues to increase with advancing age, everyone over the age of 60 should be examined annually. If you are over 40, it’s a good idea to have your eyes examined every one to two years to check for common age-related eye problems such as presbyopia, cataracts and macular degeneration.
Q: How much are eye exams at Blink Eyewear?
A: Our eye exams for adults aged 19 to 64 start at $129.
Q: Do you give eye exams for children and seniors?
A: We do! Get in touch with us directly to get a quote for our eye exam for children or seniors.