(Atlantic) National Eye Exam Month is recognized in August.
Dr. Jeff Goergen at Eye Associates says people of all ages can benefit from having their vision checked and not just those that are starting to show signs of vision loss. “I recommend all kids get eye check ups before they enter kindergarten. The average person needs an eye test every two years unless they wear contacts or glasses. If you have any eye diseases it’s every six months or every year. Some people think if they see real well and can pass a driver’s license test than they don’t need tested at all.”
However, Dr. Goergen doesn’t believe the average individual gets tested often enough. “No they don’t. There have been a lot of studies that say the average person goes 3-5 years between check ups and about 30% of the population doesn’t get regular eye exams.”
He emphasizes having your vision checked shouldn’t just be reserved for when you think you might need glasses or contacts. “More importantly is looking for diseases. One disease that can happen at any age is glaucoma. There aren’t a lot of symptoms early on in glaucoma and it’s one of those silent diseases that can rob your vision. So that’s why I like to have people in for check-ups is to rule out any potential glaucoma that could be developing.”
The sooner you get started testing the smoother it becomes. “Especially before you enter school because if you have visual deficits that can impede learning. I like to start early and then you form a relationship with patients and they tend to get in more regularly when they trust you and we are all on the same page.”
