Eye Exams in Champaign, IL
The dentist, the doctor, the pharmacist—all of these professionals help you keep your health in check, but your visual health is just as important. Regular eye exams in Champaign, IL will help you ensure you are doing what is best for the health of your eyes. At Champaign Eye Professionals, our optometrists have nearly three decades of experience. We do comprehensive eye exams for our patients to monitor for problems, check their visual accuracy, and give them assurance with every visit.
The Importance of Periodic Vision Screenings in Champaign, IL
Did you know that more than 11 million people in the U.S. need some form of vision correction? Another scary fact: 93 million people in the U.S. are at risk of losing their vision due to poor eye health, but only about half of those people will have visited an eye doctor at all within the prior year. What can seem like a mundane and routine checkup is incredibly important to your eyes.
Not only will our Champaign eye doctor assess your vision and determine if you need vision correction, but they will also be checking for some of the most common eye diseases. Many of the most common eye diseases and conditions are easier to treat if diagnosed early, and vision loss may be more likely to be prevented. Some of the conditions your eye doctor may look for during your visit include:
- Glaucoma – Increasingly common and progressive, glaucoma affects the optic nerve
- Diabetic retinopathy – Diabetic retinopathy is the most prevailing cause of blindness and is characterized by blood vessel damage in the eye
- Cataracts – The number one cause of vision loss, cataracts are cloudy proteins that collect on the lens of the eye
- Macular Degeneration – This breakdown of tissue in the eye causes lack of light sensitivity and can lead to blindness
The more vigilant you are about regular eye exams, the less likely it will be that you miss an important diagnosis and eye disease treatment that could save your vision.
What to Expect During Your Exam with Our Champaign Optometrist
At Champaign Eye Professionals, you can expect your eye exam to include every step to assess the quality and health of your vision.
Visual Accuracy Tests
Visual accuracy tests involve using an eye chart and other equipment to measure how well you can see with both of your eyes together and then one eye at a time. These methods have been in use for many years, and they are an accurate way to gauge whether or not you may need corrective lenses to improve your vision.
Screening for Common Eye Diseases
Depending on your age and risk factors, the eye doctor will do a series of screenings to check for signs that your eyes or vision are at risk. For example, an eye pressure test is common for those who are at risk of glaucoma. During the exam, the optometrist will also use equipment to look at the optic nerve and retina at the back of the eye. They will test your peripheral vision and discuss any unusual changes they see in your eyes that may need further investigation.
Common Eye Exam Questions from Patients
When should you get an eye exam in Champaign?
Most adults with no signs of vision health problems that don’t need vision correction can get by with an exam every few years. However, it is usually recommended that you get an eye exam annually if:
- You are over the age of 40
- You wear vision correction aids
- You have been diagnosed with an eye disease
- You have a family history of eye diseases
- You have diabetes
After you have your initial eye exam with our optometrists in Champaign, the doctor will make a recommendation on the frequency of your eye exams moving forward. Every patient is different and may have a different recommendation.
Do children need eye exams?
Children definitely need eye exams just the same as adults. Your child should get a vision checkup between the ages of three and five, or just before they start school. They should also have a vision exam annually.
Do I need to bring anything to my exam?
During your eye exam, the eye doctor will be asking about any current medications you are taking. Therefore, be sure to bring a list of all prescription medications, vitamins and supplements, and over-the-counter medicines you take on a regular basis. If you do normally wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure to bring those with you as well as they may be used during your exam. Some patients will have their pupils dilated during their visit, which can make you much more sensitive to the sunlight when you leave. Therefore, be sure to have a pair of sunglasses on hand.
Schedule Your Eye Exam with a Champaign Optometrist
Take a look at the world around you. Think about the sights you enjoy witnessing: nature, your loved ones, the stars. All of this is made possible by your eyes, so taking good care of these organs should be high on the list of things to do. If you are looking for an optometrist in Champaign to help you keep your vision in check, be sure to schedule an appointment with us at Champaign Eye Professionals.
