Your eyes are more important than you realize, and most people do not give their eyes (or the proper care for their eyes) a second thought. This truly is a shame, as many serious eye diseases and complications could be avoided if people would take the time to care for their eyes and get a yearly comprehensive eye exam from experts in eye care in Virginia Beach.

Part of the reason why people tend to avoid eye exams is due to their apprehension about the whole process. Not many people get eye exams frequently, and frankly, they do not know what to expect. That is where the following article comes in, as it outlines what you can expect during your comprehensive eye exam.

Why Preventive Care for Your Eyes?

Many people think that if they don't wear glasses or contacts or have any vision problems, then there is no reason for them to take care of their eyes or to get preventive screenings. After reading the following list, you will see why preventive care for your eyes is a vital part of your health care screenings:

• Detect diseases and potential problems: A comprehensive eye exam will detect any potential problems with your eyes, including diseases. Detecting these problems early on will lead to faster and more effective treatment options, potentially saving your eyesight!
• Alleviate discomfort: Many people suffer from minor to severe headaches and other maladies as a result of poor eyesight, and they don't even know the cause of their suffering! A comprehensive eye exam will detect problems with your eyesight so that you can take steps to correct your vision, see more clearly, and find relief from your discomfort and pain.

What to Expect

Many people experience a lot of anxiety and stress leading up to their comprehensive eye exam, and this is mostly due to inexperience and a lack of knowledge about what will happen during their exam. This list is here to alleviate your worries, as it outlines what you can expect during your comprehensive eye exam:

• Your exam will take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.
• Your doctor will check your eyesight and evaluate whether or not you need to change your prescription if you already have glasses or contacts. Those who have a prescription need to have their eyesight checked regularly, as it is quite common for your eyesight to change over time. If you do not already have a prescription, the optometrist can determine if you need one.
• Your doctor will check to see how well you see at near and at far distances. Many people are either near-sighted or far-sighted, and so it is essential to check both distances.
• Your doctor will check your eye pressure, which involves a slight puff of air onto your open eye. For most people, this is the most anxiety-inducing part of the exam, but in reality it is painless and is over very quickly. Checking eye pressure is important, as it detects potentially blinding diseases and conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. 
• Your doctor will measure your periphery vision. Measuring your periphery vision is another screening that detects potentially blinding diseases.
• Your doctor will examine your eye for infection and eye disease.
• In many cases, the doctor in charge of your eye care in Virginia Beach may need to dilate your eyes in order to detect potential problems that may result in the loss of your eyesight. This is not always necessary, and is only done if you show other signs of these diseases, or if you are at risk for these diseases due to age, or other medical conditions that you may have.