5 Things You Should Know Before Getting An Eye Test
For many Singaporeans, the last time we had an eye test or eye exam was back in our primary school days. As our vision begins to stabilize in our late teens or early 20s, many of us begin to forgo yearly vision check ups. Even for individuals with eye diseases such as myopia or astigmatism, we might neglect to keep up with regular eye checks apart from when our glasses or contact lenses begin to give us grief.
EMME Visioncare offers comprehensive eye examinations that can help to screen for and identify existing and potential eye diseases. Before you schedule an eye exam with us, here are 5 things you should know:
1. You don’t need to have an existing eye disease to go for an eye test
Routine eye tests are crucial to helping you stay aware of your eye health, and can empower you to proactively take action before your eyesight or vision worsens. Changes to our vision can happen very gradually, which is why we won’t notice it until it becomes noticeably bad and too late to treat - hence the importance of going for regular screenings.
For individuals with eye diseases, eye exams are not just to update your prescription. Apart from tracking your vision and eye health, our optometrists and opticians can recommend the latest treatment options that may be more comfortable or suitable for you.
2. It’s not just looking at an eye chart
Many people think of eye tests and picture reading off a chart of numbers and letters of different sizes. While this is one aspect of an eye exam, EMME Visioncare’s comprehensive eye examination by optometrists in Singapore includes a detailed vision check, external eye check, and internal eye check. Every aspect of your vision and eyes is examined in the screening process to give you a thorough assessment of your overall eye health.
3. Your eye health history is important
If you have a history of eye diseases in your family, be sure to mention them to our optometrists and opticians before the eye test. Common eye diseases in Singapore include myopia, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. There are genetic components to many common eye diseases, and our trained staff can help to screen for and identify early warning signs.
4. The recommended frequency of eye tests can depend on many factors
We commonly hear that you should get an eye test once a year - but this may not be the recommended frequency for everyone. Your age, pre-existing eye diseases, occupational hazards, and other health risks can all affect the frequency of your eye exams. Severe issues such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration become more common as we age, and increasing the frequency of your eye checks can help with early detection. Generally speaking, these are the recommendations for individuals with no risk factors or obvious symptoms of eye disease:
- Below 16 years: Annually
- Between 16-59 years old: Every 2 years
- 60 years and above: Annually
For individuals with risk factors, the recommended frequencies are:
- Below 16 years: Every 6 months
- Between 16-59 years old: Annually
- 60 years and above: Every 6 months
Risk factors can include:
- Illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, or pre-existing personal/family history of eye disease
- Occupational hazards that can be demanding or dangerous to your vision (e.g. handling laser or welding equipment)
- Taking medication with indicated potential side effects on vision or eyesight
- Wearing contact lenses
5. Your overall health matters too
Eye health and your overall health are more linked than people are aware of. Health conditions and illnesses can affect your eyesight and vision - for example, diabetes or hypertension can affect your body’s blood vessels, including the fragile blood vessels in your eyes.
Singaporeans with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes could be at risk for diabetic retinopathy, and are recommended to go for regular diabetic eye tests or screenings. Other medical conditions that could affect your eyes include rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial infections, heart disease, and thyroid problems.
Take proactive measures with EMME Visioncare
EMME Visioncare’s comprehensive eye test comprises a detailed vision check, and internal and external checks of the eye. This screening gives you a thorough and detailed overview of your eye health, and our optometrist can then recommend suitable treatment options. Book a comprehensive eye exam with EMME Visioncare today or get in touch for more information on eye screenings in Singapore.