Eye Examinations
Whether you are 2 or 92, an eye exam is an important part of your routine health checks.
Eye examinations at Jones Eyecare are designed to be eye health focused, using the latest technology to give us the most information about your eyes.
Everyone is recommended to have an eye exam every 1-2yrs depending on their age, whether or not they wear spectacles or if they have any health conditions.
Once you are over 60, the risk of eye disease increases significantly and the NHS recommend we use drops to dilate your pupils to enhance the view of the retina.
Many eye diseases can develop with little or no symptoms for the patient, therefore regular checks are essential to detect these changes before they affect your vision.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the UK. 1 in 3 patients over 70yrs old will show some signs of AMD.
AMD can be split into 2 different types, dry and wet.
Dry is the more common of the 2 conditions and causes a slow progressive loss of central vision.
Wet AMD develops much faster and central vision can deteriorated rapidly. 10-15% of those with dry AMD will go on to develop wet AMD.
The NHS can now provide injections for wet AMD to try and stabilise the vision. Early detection of wet AMD is therefore crucial in preventing sight loss.
Diabetic Retinopathy
All patients who suffer with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk of complications, including problems with their eyes. The longer you are diabetic the more likely you are to suffer these complications.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when sugar levels are high - this leads to damage to the retinal blood vessels.
In the early stages you may have no symptoms, it is therefore important to have a yearly eye exam with your optometrist.
A referral to a consultant ophthalmologist can be made if significant retinopathy is detected.
Glaucoma
There are many different types of glaucoma but the most common are primary open angle and closed angle glaucoma.
Glaucoma is often known as the ‘Silent Thief of Sight’, as often patients have no symptoms until the disease is advanced.
Those over 40 yrs old are recommended to have a test every 2yrs so they can be screened for this condition.
If you have a family history of glaucoma then you are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma and you may require an eye exam every year.
Those who are highly shortsighted (myopic) are also at an increased risk. If you are longsighted (hyperopic) then you are at an increased risk of angle closure glaucoma.
