Why should you get an eye exam every year from our 98104 eye care with Dr. Sheldon Cowen? We'll give you two very good reasons. First, to have your vision tested and second, to be screened for common eye diseases. Your eyesight is always changing and the prescription that used to suit you just fine may need some updating. Or if you've never worn eyeglasses or contacts before, this may be the year where you can finally benefit from them. As for your screening, bear in mind that most eye diseases don't have any symptoms in their early stages to alert you to their presence. And early detection is considered vital with any disease when it comes to the odds of the best outcome.
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism are all vision issues that can easily be corrected with a pair of glasses or contact lenses. If you notice that you're having difficulties seeing when driving, reading, working at your computer, reading the menu at the coffee shop; or you have blurry vision or headaches from eye strain, these are all indications that you probably need a new or updated prescription from our 98104 eye care.
Two eye diseases that can affect anyone at any age are cataracts and glaucoma. Tonometry is the baseline test for glaucoma, a disease that is marked by excessive internal eye pressure. Dr. Cowen will also check your peripheral (side-to-side) vision and if other tests are needed based on the results of those, they'll also be performed. A slit-lamp exam, which uses a special light to see inside your eyes, is the initial way to check for cataracts. Other common eye diseases our 98104 eye care screens for are specific to age, as in macular degeneration (affecting those who are 40 or older) or to other circumstances, like diabetic retinopathy, a concern for anyone with type one or type two diabetes.
And because we make every effort to be comprehensive, your eye muscles, eyelids, and other key parts of your eyes will be examined. The blood vessels in your eyes can even indicate potential problems not related to your optical health, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. When it comes to your vision an eye health, you can always depend on our 98104 eye care.
By Dr. Sheldon J. Cowen
August 30, 2015