Vision screenings do not tell the whole story. They only check vision. These tests usually use automated equipment and the accuracy and effectiveness of the generated eyeglass prescription is limited.

During a full eye exam, your optometrist evaluates both the internal and external health of your eyes. As many common eye diseases have no early symptoms, your health depends on knowing the difference.

Your optometrist examines the tissues and structures of the eye, checking for eye diseases, retinal detachments and tears, optic nerve disorders, tumours, and ocular complications from medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or auto-immune disease.

Diagnosing eye or vision disorders in children

Even when using sophisticated vision screening tools, highly trained screeners can miss up to one-third of eye or vision disorders in children. Plus, it’s not uncommon for parents to believe that they would know if their child has a vision problem, but these issues can be hard to spot particularly if there is a problem in only one of the eyes. And, children often don’t know they have a vision problem as they believe what they are seeing is normal.

Eye health is complex and deserves the attention of an expert

See your optometrist for an annual eye exam and/or if you’re dealing with new, ongoing, or recurring eye issues. Your optometrist can examine, diagnose, and/or treat chronic, recurrent, and/or early to moderate stage eye diseases.

Your optometrist will help you with an appropriate treatment plan, if necessary. This can include glasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, medical treatment for an eye disease, or possibly a referral for surgery to correct muscle problems.

Doctors of optometry complete a Bachelor of Science degree or higher, followed by a four-year Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited university. Many complete up to two years of postdoctoral residency and/or sub-specialty fellowship training. Their education is dedicated to the eye and eye health.

Seeing is a gift that deserves protecting. See your optometrist for an annual eye exam.