The Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams: Protecting Your Vision at Any Age

Many people believe there’s no reason to schedule an eye exam until they experience problems with their vision or eye health. That approach fails to take advantage of all that preventive care has to offer, and can also be dangerous. 

At Wicker Park Eye Center, we provide comprehensive eye exams to help patients understand how well their eyes function and whether any eye health problems are developing. That gives Chicago, Illinois, residents the chance to take action to protect and preserve their vision. 

Why come in for an eye exam if your vision is fine?

Just because you don’t notice drastic changes in your vision doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from a professional eye exam. 

For one thing, vision problems can develop slowly, and your body and brain can adapt to those changes. You might not be fully aware of how much your vision has declined over the years. 

A professional eye exam includes an in-depth vision assessment. You might be surprised to learn that you’re not seeing the world at your full potential. Glasses or contact lenses can reveal a depth of experience you didn’t know you were missing. 

But vision is just part of why annual eye exams are so important.

Comprehensive eye exams screen for common vision issues

The human eye is a complex structure, and numerous eye health issues can develop. Not all of these problems create a clear set of symptoms in the early stages. That means they can worsen over time, long before you notice something is amiss. 

Comprehensive eye exams go beyond measuring vision and look closely at the structures within your eye. Conditions we screen for during routine eye exams include:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy

Researchers now know that a vast array of chronic conditions cause measurable changes in the eyes, especially in the blood vessels at the back of the eyes. Your eye exam can screen for over 200 chronic and systemic diseases and detect health issues before symptoms develop. 

Online eye testing isn’t a replacement for a comprehensive eye exam

You may have seen advertisements for online eye testing, with claims that these services can replace a visit to an ophthalmologist. Technology and the internet have come a long way, but no option replaces the in-depth screening techniques used by a medical specialist. 

The technology used for modern eye exams is incredibly advanced. It helps Dr. Daniel Tepper visually assess your outer and inner eye structures and create digital images of even the tiniest blood vessels within your eye, as well as the surrounding tissue.

A comprehensive eye exam also relies on the education, skills, and training of your specialist. Even if an online program could deliver in-depth screenings, it takes an ophthalmologist to interpret screening results and integrate them into the larger framework of your overall health. 

If you’re overdue for a professional eye exam, you can rely on us for outstanding care in a warm and welcoming environment. Give us a call during business hours or check out our online scheduling option. We’re excited to welcome you into the Wicker Park Eye Center family.