Adult Routine Eye Examinations For Cataracts And Glaucoma
Eye examinations can help preserve the health of your eyes and help prevent existing problems from becoming worse. Early diagnosis and treatment of certain eye diseases can help prevent their progression and lower your risk for vision loss. As people age, they may be more susceptible to certain eye disorders such as cataracts and glaucoma. Here are some adult routine eye examination procedures you may receive at your next optometry appointment.
Cataract Slit Lamp Examination
To determine if you have cataracts, your eye doctor will perform a slit lamp examination. During this procedure, you will sit in a chair and place your chin on a chin rest and position your forehead against a strap so that your eye doctor can look inside your eyes.
The slit lamp is a type of microscope with a special bright light that allows your eye doctor to examine the lenses and other structures of your eyes. Your lenses are normally clear, however, if your slit lamp examination reveals opacities or clouding of your lenses, then your eye doctor may suspect cataract formation. Increasing the power of your eyeglasses can help you see better, however, surgically removing the cataracts and replacing them with clear implants may be a more effective and permanent solution.
Glaucoma Eye Pressure Examination
There are a couple of different types of glaucoma: open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma. While both types of glaucoma can cause peripheral vision loss, closed-angle glaucoma can cause severe symptoms such as eye pain and redness, excessive tearing, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Glaucoma also causes a rise in intraocular pressure (eye pressure), and if not diagnosed early and effectively managed, can lead to blindness.
Your routine eye examination may include a glaucoma test to evaluate your eye pressure with a test called non-contact tonometry, also known as an air puff test. During this test, you will feel a puff of air on your eye. The air flattens out your cornea and your eye pressure is determined by how long it takes for your cornea to flatten out. If you have high eye pressure and subsequent glaucoma, your eye doctor may prescribe pressure-lowing drops such as beta-blocker drops to help keep your eye pressure from getting too high. This can cause retinal damage and vision loss.
If you have problems with your vision, schedule a routine eye examination with your optometrist. When eye disorders are diagnosed and treated early on, it can ensure optimal eye health so that you can enjoy clear vision for years to come. Call a local clinic, such as Elhosn Eye & Aesthetics, to learn more.
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