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What You Should Tell Your Vision Tester

By Carmella Watts


It's recommended that people get their eyes checked out by a vision tester each year. For those that have already gone to one, there are six things to bear in mind for the next visit. For those looking forward to visiting one in the near future, it might be an idea to think about these things before the appointment. The eye doctor should spend at least a minute or two chatting about your general health, health history as well as your eyes.

Upon first contact they will probably ask you about your health in general and about any current medical problems like high blood pressure. If you are a pregnant woman you need to explain this, as the eyes can be affected by not only health issues but also by changes to the body.

As much as the doctor needs to know the present health record of a patient, they also should know their past, and this goes for illnesses within the family. What may seem fairly mundane things might be of great importance to visual health. Things like glaucoma, macular degeneration and past history of other eye problems could be inherited. The chances of getting these yourself may also be increased, meaning the doctor will most probably be looking for them in an exam. If you have had eye surgery in the past or any trauma related to the eyes that should be explained too.

It might seem rather obvious, but many people do not tell their doctor about changes in their vision. If you notice things changing, becoming blurred, or an increase in spots or floaters, it could mean your eyes need attention. Things that may seem trivial, such as flashes of light or blurriness, should also be reported. They will investigate the problem and try to diagnose the cause, and hopefully help eradicate the problem. If you wear glasses or contact lenses it's best to bring them along too, as well as prescription sunglasses.

Before the doctor prescribes any medication, he'll most likely need to know if you're taking anything at the moment. However trivial things such as aspirin may seem, it's always better to give the doctor the information, and let them make up their own mind. The same goes if you're taking prescription medication, as these may potentially effect vision.

Something that you might not think is your doctor's concern is your present lifestyle. However, the issue of social life, alcohol consumption and smoking really can have an affect on vision. Another aspect of lifestyle is occupation. Some occupations mean people spend long hours staring at a computer screen or reading electronic books, or even regular paperback books. This will all be taken into account during the appointment.

Anyone wearing contact lenses should discuss their current eye-wear too. It's vital that the eye specialist know how long they are being worn, when they are cleaned, if they are slept in and if you swim in them.

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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