August marks many seasonal changes in the U.S. It’s the unofficial end of summer break as teachers and families with school-aged children across the nation turn their attention to preparing for the coming school year. August is also recognized as National Eye Exam Month, a time dedicated to encouraging Americans to prioritize their eye health by scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam. At Collins Vision, we love to talk to our patients about the importance of taking care of your eyes in every season of life. And we talk about it every month of the year! But August gives us a platform to share in more detail why eye health is so important, not only for your vision, but for the health of your entire body.

Many Eye Conditions Develop Slowly and Without Symptoms

Beyond the basic vision issues of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, there are many other eye conditions and diseases that can negatively affect your vision, and many of them develop slowly over time and/or do not have noticeable symptoms in early stages.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when fluid pressure increases within your eye. Over time, this pressure may cause damage to the optic nerve and result in irreversible vision loss. While there is presently no cure for glaucoma, early detection with thorough comprehensive testing may help prevent future vision loss.  As part of a comprehensive eye exam, we have state-of-the-art technology to test for glaucoma, including OCT (optical coherence tomography) that takes an image of the nerve to look for damage from glaucoma. 

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula, which is the small area responsible for producing sharp, central vision required for “straight ahead” activities such as driving, reading, recognizing faces and performing close-up work. AMD can develop so slowly that people hardly notice the change on a day-to-day basis, but over time, it may result in significant vision loss. There is no cure for macular degeneration, but our experienced providers can recommend treatment that may be able to delay its progression or even improve your vision.

Cataracts

Cataracts is another eye condition that can be diagnosed at your annual comprehensive eye exam. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens that occurs as you age. This cloudiness blocks and distorts light passing through the eye and slowly robs you of clear vision. Over time, the cataract will grow larger and cloud more of the lens.  Cataracts cannot be treated with medication or glasses and will not go away on their own. The only treatment for cataracts is cataract surgery. At Collins Vision, we are Southwest Florida’s trusted experts in the field of advanced cataract surgery.

Routine Eye Exams are as Essential as Routine Medical Care

Even if your vision feels “normal” to you and you don’t notice any issues, annual dilated eye exams are an integral part of maintaining the health of your eyes as well as your whole body. We’ve already discussed how a thorough annual exam can help identify eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts, but it is also able to assist in the early detection of health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The earlier these diseases are detected, the earlier sight-preserving treatment can be started.

What Goes Into a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

A comprehensive eye exam at Collins Vision is so much more than just checking your vision. It evaluates your overall eye health, visual clarity, how well your eyes work together and gives insight into your general health. Many health conditions unrelated to your vision can show up in a comprehensive eye exam, including high blood pressure, diabetes and even multiple sclerosis. Our skilled and experienced clinical providers provide expertise in a wide range of eye care services. During your visit, our caring, dedicated physicians will explain all of your options and provide you with the information you need to make educated, important decisions about your vision. We look forward to serving you at one of our three convenient locations.

See the Difference at Collins Vision

At Collins Vision, we are proud to be Southwest Florida’s leading full-service eye care practice since 2004. With an unwavering commitment to safety, service, innovation and visual freedom, we look forward to helping every patient we serve See the Difference. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today.