This August is National Eye Exam month and in observance of the holiday it’s important to visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, the frequency of eye exams is dependent on an individual’s age, race, past ocular history, medical history, family history of eye disease, and types of symptoms or ocular findings encountered. Children should visit the eye doctor annually, as well as adults over 50 years old or suffering from diabetes. Adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease are recommended to see an ophthalmologist every two to four years.
“An eye exam is so important because it can tell your doctor about your overall health,” affirms Dr. Edward Kondrot, the world’s leading ophthalmologist and founder of Healing the Eye & Wellness Center. “Regular eye exams can do more than just reading a chart, they can save your eyesight.”
The Vision Council of America states that 12.2 million Americans require some sort of vision correction but don’t use any and 48% of parents with children under 12 have never taken their children to an eye care professional. Here are five reasons to get an eye exam by an eye doctor:
- Save a Headache. If you have been having unexplained, constant headaches, your solution could be visiting your ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist can pinpoint the problem of your headaches.
- Perform Well in School. One out of every four children have vision problems; a common reason children fall behind in school is poor, undetected vision. Taking your children to the optometrist can detect an eyesight problem that can contribute to learning and reading difficulties.
- Determine Prescription. Your eyes change over time. An eye doctor can determine if you need eyeglasses or contacts, or if you need a stronger prescription to reduce eyestrain and increase your visibility.
- Detect Eye Conditions. An ophthalmologist is able to spot the early onset signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and high cholesterol just by looking at the eye.
- Prevent Conditions. Many serious eye diseases often have no symptoms. An eye doctor will see the early signs of diseases such as macular degeneration or cataracts. Early detection is important to prevent serious damage.
“I strongly encourage everyone, no matter what age, to get eye exams regularly,” adds Dr. Kondrot. “Early detection of diseases and eye conditions are essential to preventing serious damage.”
Dr. Kondrot is the author of three best-selling books, including “10 Essentials to Save Your Sight” (Advantage Media Group, July 2012), and president of the Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association. He has founded the Healing The Eye & Wellness Center, located just north of Tampa, Fla., which offers alternative and homeopathic routes to vision therapies known as the “Kondrot Program.” The program focuses on such conditions as macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts, and others. His advanced programs have helped people from around the world restore their vision. The center sits on 50 acres of land and features a 14,000-square-foot state-of-the art complex, an organic ranch, jogging trails, swimming pool, hot tub, and more. For more information, visit the site at www.healingtheeye.com.