Having healthy eyesight is necessary for a wide range of day-to-day activities, including work, interpersonal relationships, learning, leisure, sporting activities, entertainment, driving, and even just the most basic task like eating a meal.
This is why at Asia Retina, keeping the eyes healthy is the number priority. Do you want to know the secret to maintaining healthy eyesight even as you age? Ask any eye specialist in Singapore and they will tell you that getting an eye exam is the best place to start.
Why do you need to get your eyes examined?
For us to see, each part of our eyes has an important function, and all work together in specific of ways. Several individuals have more difficulties with their vision as they age, thereby having to wear spectacles and contact lenses to help them have improved eyesight. For some, these changes in vision health are easy to detect. However, eye illnesses may catch us unaware and sneak up on us at any time and become worse without our knowledge.
An eye exam will help you determine if your eye health is in tip-top condition. Vision assessments that you can avail of at the malls or eyeglass stores simply determine if you have blurry vision and need prescription glasses. Whereas professional eye specialists provide you with a thorough review of your optical health. Just like a regular physical exam, your eyes will greatly benefit from an overall workup.
Who can perform an eye exam?
A major distinction between a vision test and an eye exam is the type of professional who administers the test. Eye exams are done by an eye specialist while vision tests can be run by anyone who is trained to operate the automated equipment being used.
A qualified medical practitioner who specialises in eye diseases and treatment is known as an ophthalmologist. The field of medicine that specialises in the structure, physiology, and condition of the eyes is known as ophthalmology. To be an eye specialist in Singapore, one must earn a degree in ophthalmology and go through years of specialised training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders and related conditions.
I don’t have a serious eye disease. Do I still need an eye exam?
A visit to an eye clinic can reveal minor eye problems such as dry eye or eye strain from over-exposure to light emitted by mobile devices or computers. An eye exam can also determine if your eyes are susceptible to moderate or severe allergies, or even as simple as determining changes in your glasses.
Much like other prevalent health conditions, numerous major eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, among others are typically undetected in their early phases. Despite the fact that these eye disorders cause permanent damage to important eye parts, many individuals are unaware of the consequences because normal vision is usually unaffected
It is essential to note that the determination of initial stages of eye diseases, generally, are potential opportunities for early clinical diagnosis and intervention, which can prevent, reverse, or manage the progression of eye disease that may lead to loss of vision. In some cases, vision assessments can be valuable, but these tests are not the same as a thorough eye exam by a trained eye specialist.
When should you see an eye specialist?
It is recommended that all healthy adults see an ophthalmologist for a thorough eye exam by age 40. As a result, the eye’s health can be checked, and any eye condition can be detected and treated promptly and reduce the chance of developing serious eye diseases. Our bodies begin to break down as we get older. Therefore, as we age, we need to pay more attention to our health and take better care of ourselves. Depending on the outcomes of this preliminary eye exam, the eye specialist will tell you when your next visit should be.
Certain eye conditions or symptoms warrant urgent care. Be sure to seek medical attention immediately if you experience any change in vision, such as double vision, blurriness, sudden loss of vision, eye infections, and trauma. People with a high risk of developing eye conditions or diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and other pre-existing eye conditions should also consider seeing a visit to an eye specialist as they can.
One question often asked by parents is on how early a child should get his/her first eye checkup. For most situations, a child can have his/her first eye examination when he/she is 6 months old, then another one when he/she turns 3. After that, usually, another eye exam is done right before the child enters first grade to prepare him/her for school, which is when he/she is around 5 to 6 years of age. Parents may then have their child take an eye examination every two years if there are no vision problems, or every year if the child needs to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.
What to expect during an eye exam?
The entire eye examination usually takes around 60 to 90 minutes and involves multiple tests. The patient will be tested on things such as binocular vision, refraction, colour vision, glaucoma presence, retina assessment and more.
Finding the right eye specialist in Singapore
Just as it is with any other type of medical care, it is essential to find an eye specialist who is qualified and best suited to diagnose and treat your condition.
One of the best ways to find out about an eye specialist is by looking at his/her social media pages. Patients may leave reviews there, and you can also ask for some recommendations from your friends and acquaintances. There are also some websites on which people can rate their doctors based on their experiences. Make sure to find an eye specialist with good reviews, although it may be harder to schedule an appointment. Most importantly, find a doctor that you are comfortable with. Having a good relationship with your eye specialist is important to make sure that your eyes are taken care of.
Asia Retina – Eye specialist (Ophthalmologist) in Singapore, Dr Claudine Pang
#15-10 The Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd, 238859
+65 6732 0007
https://asiaretina.com
