Don't Take Your Eyes Off the Importance of Annual Vision Exams

While most people have the annual physical on their calendar and the semi-annual trip to the dentist in mind, many overlook an annual eye exam as part of their preventive health routine. Yet the annual eye exam is just as important -- even if you think your vision is fine.

"The biggest reason is that there are changes in the eyes that occur so insidiously you don't notice," explains Dr. Laurie Chaikin of Wild Iris Optometric Group in Castro Valley.

For instance, Chaikin says macular degeneration, a common eye disease, "generally starts in one eye. You would be surprised how unaware people are of changes in one eye, and this is usually because the good eye compensates. That can be a big surprise for people."

While Chaikin says the medical community doesn't yet know what causes macular degeneration, which is defined as detrioration of the macula, the primary part of the retina. As a result of macular degeneration, patients might experience blurred vision, blind spots, and even blindness.

"We don't know what the cause of it is yet, but we do know of some risk factors," Chaikin notes. Among the larger risk factors are a family history of the disease and smoking. The latter risk factor, Chaikin warns, "has a stronger correlation than we thought."

Likewise, Chaikin says that other risk factors appear to be a lack of good nutrition, particularly a lack of beta carotenoids, lutein, and other vitamins. "If you have a family history of macular degeneration, taking eye vitamins in your 40s would be a good idea," she adds.

Another common eye problem is cataracts. Chaikin points out that cataracts, "are not a disease, but often form as a result of the normal aging process."

Even though aging can make cataracts inevitable, risk factors tend to heighten the likelihood of developing cataracts. "Ultraviolet exposure is a factor, so it's very important to be wearing sunglasses and a hat when you're outdoors," she explains. "Having diabetes can also increase your risk of cataracts, but it's a different mechanism as to why it occurs."

In fact, Chaikin says that for many people with chronic health problems, like diabetes, eye exams are particularly important. "For diabetics, changes in the retina can cause a loss of vision and need to be watched," she notes.

In addition to these diseases, many patients may have Computer Vision Syndrome. "People using a PC all day develop specific symptoms," Chaikin notes. Those symptoms can include eyes that are tired or dry and being unable to focus on a distant point when looking away from the computer screen.

For Computer Vision Syndrome, a combination of glasses geared to computer work, along with exercises (such as the 20/20/20 rule and Palming, posted on Chaikin's web site) can ameliorate many of the symptoms.

Chaikin says a patient's awareness of possible disease, as well as prevention and early detection, make any problems much easier to treat. But people often put off their next eye appointment, with the irrational fear that somehow, going to the eye doctor will cause the problem. Or, if they are experiencing symptoms, they tend to rationalize, trying to explain away symptoms. "The power of denial is huge," Chaikin says.

Let's hope willpower -- at least to make and keep the annual eye appointment -- is larger.