Six Things Your Vision Tester Should Know

By Carmella Watts


An annual check-up of your vision is usually the standard recommendation. For people who have yet to visit a vision tester there are several things that it might be useful to tell them, that assuming they do not ask. During the consultation usually the eye doctor will spend a few minutes going over things like general health, past history of  illness and normally an eye exam is involved too.


When you first chat with the eye doctor they need to be told about you general health. If you have certain medical conditions like allergies, diabetes, or high blood pressure, these should be explained. Women who are pregnant need to speak up too, as the eyes can be affected by all manner of health issues and changes to the body.

Although the focus of the specialist can often be on the present health of the patient, there should be no forgetting the past. Anyone with a history of medical issues, needs to let them know. They also need to discuss the health of family member, because some problems, such as glaucoma, could well be inherited. Moreover, previous surgery to the eyes or trauma to the eyes needs to be reported too.

What should not be overlooked is one of the most obvious things to tell the eye doctor, and that's about changes to your vision. If it becomes blurred, or is there's an increase in floaters or spots before the eyes then it could be an indication that urgent treatment is required. Sensitivity to bright lights or flashes before the eyes also need to be reported. Those that wear any corrective eye-wear should bring them to the appointment too.

If you're taking mediation then the eye doctor needs to be informed of this, as all prescription and non-prescription drugs have the potential to affect the eyes and vision. Additionally, any new medication that's prescribed could very well affect what you are already taking, perhaps producing complications.

Despite the obvious temptation to refrain from telling the specialist everything about your life, it's very important to let them know about your present lifestyle. Social habits often dictate our level of health and these habits can also have an affect on the vision. Things like smoking and alcohol consumption could cause problems with our vision if driven to excess. Another factor is your occupation. Those how are in front of a computer for much of the day, and those who read a lot, should explain this to the doctor.

If you are a contact lens wearer, then the specialist might want to discuss several things regarding their use. This could include how long they are worn throughout the day, whether you sleep in them, if you go swimming in them, and how often they are cleaned and replaced.

A vision tester is sometimes only as good as the knowledge they get from a patient. If they have information on your lifestyle, habits and family history they should be able to provide better medical care and hopefully catch any eye problems before they deteriorate.



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