Comprehensive Eye Health Screening at Angel Eyes

AN OVERVIEW

Having an eye test at least once every two years should be part of everyone’s health care routine. Every year, 12.5 million people who need to, do not have a regular eye test. Many causes of sight loss are preventable if they are caught early – regular eye tests are the best way to do this.  Eyecare experts recommend that everyone have a complete eye exam every one to three years, depending on age, risk factors and physical condition.

At Angel Eyes, we offer an extensive eye health check by a specialist consultant surgeon for children as well as for adults. You will have your vision assessed, and eyes examined from front to back, including applanation pressure (more accurate than the air puff test) and fundoscopy, to name a few of the tests included at your visit. Each Consultation is tailored to your needs and requirements, and the doctor will advise if you need any specialist or further investigations.

Being told you have an eye condition can be an anxious time. Feelings of worry and uncertainty about the future can be hard to cope with. Accurate information on your eye condition can help at this difficult time. Please feel free to contact us to answer any questions you may have!

Eye Health Check up for children

• The Importance of Regular Vision Checkups in Children

The American Optometric Association recommends that children have their eyes examined starting as early as six months of age. Why so young? Because detecting and correcting problems early in a child’s development can help prevent a lifetime of learning difficulties and assure a healthier, happier future.

Some experts estimate that approximately one in 20 preschool children and one in four school-aged children have an eye problem that could cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. Annual professional testing during a child’s school years is vital, as well. Generally speaking, vision checks in primary care doctors’ offices and schools are not tests, simply assessments. They are limited to having the child read from a wall chart–hardly the same as determining how well he or she sees and processes in the real-life, real-school environment. Again, vision problems detected and corrected can enhance the young person’s learning and living experience significantly. Learning disabilities, behavioural issues, lack of self-esteem: all are often linked to poor vision and visual skills. 

• Presence of Risk Factor or Symptoms

Any child who does have risk factors for vision problems may need to have more frequent eye exams. Some examples of common risk factors include:

• prematurity 
• developmental delays 
• turned or crossed eyes 
• family history of eye disease 
• history of eye injury 
• other physical illness or disease

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), children who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses need to be seen annually to keep their prescriptions current.

Children without symptoms and who are at low risk for eye problems should have their eyes screened by six months of age, then examined at age three and again at the start of school. Risk-free children should then continue to have their eyes examined at least every two years throughout school.

• Recommended Examination Frequency for the Paediatric Patient

Eye Health Check up for Adults

• The Importance of Regular Vision Checkups in Adults

The American Optometric Association recommends a yearly eye exam for adults — not only to detect and to diagnose vision changes or problems — but, also to maintain eye health. For example, glaucoma, a disease caused by increased pressure in the eye, commonly goes unnoticed by adults. Regular vision examinations are also important for the prevention of vision problems created or aggravated by today’s academic and professional demands.

21st century lifestyles demand more from our vision than ever before. Adults in our technological society constantly use their near vision at work and at home. C.V.S. (Computer Vision Syndrome) is one of the fastest growing health concerns in the workplace today. Environmental stresses on the visual system (including excessive computer use or close work) can sometimes induce headaches and/or visual difficulties which can be effectively treated with corrective lenses and/or Vision Therapy.

It is easy to neglect your eyes because they rarely hurt when there is a problem. But once your eyesight is lost, it may never be restored

• Presence of Risk Factor or Symptoms

The AOA also recommends an annual eye exam for any adult who wears eyeglasses or contacts. If you don’t normally need vision correction, you still need an eye exam every two to three years up to the age of 40, depending on your rate of visual change and overall health.

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Neurological disorders
• History of eye trauma
• Alcohol and other addiction
• Those on chronic steroids
• Family history of Glaucoma
• Those on medications for long periods of time
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Long term unprotected exposure to sun

If you are over 40, it’s a good idea to have your eyes examined every one to two years to check for common age-related eye problems such as presbyopia, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Because the risk of eye disease continues to increase with advancing age, everyone over the age of 60 should be examined annually. The American Optometric Association provides the general guidelines shown below. Ask your eyecare professional what interval is right for you.

• Recommended Examination Frequency for the Adult Patient

• Common Eye Diseases to be screened in adults

• Glaucoma:

Over 2% of patients over the age of 40 (and even higher in the aged) have glaucoma, and in the UK, 50% do not know they have this potentially irreversible, blinding condition. If treated early Glaucoma can be prevented! If you have a family history your risk could be doubled, and persons with short-sightedness or diabetes are also more at risk. Seeing a specialist will ensure the disease is detected, and prevented, and most patients lead a normal healthy life, with good vision! At Angel Eyes we have an extensive range of glaucoma tests to ensure you benefit from the recent medical advances in glaucoma care. Read our section on Glaucoma to find out more.

• Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) 

ARMD is the most common cause of adult blindness in the developed world. The macula is the central part of the retina at the back of the eye, and is responsible for picking up detailed visual information, such as reading words on a page, or sewing. It wears out naturally as we get older, resulting in poorer vision. Blue eyes and obesity increase the risk of macular degeneration and nowadays there are treatments to prevent severe loss, and improve some patients vision! Studies show that antioxidants prevent the retina from damage done by smoking, alcohol and ultraviolet rays. As we age, the body is less efficient at getting rid of oxidants, and this can cause retinal damage. An antioxidant called lutein is hugely beneficial. Lutein is found in broad-leaf leaves such as spinach and kale, and in yellow vegetables such as sweetcorn and yellow peppers. Evidence suggests that a diet rich in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables in general is good for antioxidants.

• Diabetic retinopathy 

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes it is vital that the back of your eyes is closely looked at at least once a year! Longevity and poor control are the biggest risk factors for diabetic eye disease.Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Cataracts and glaucoma are more common in diabetics but the most serious eye condition associated with diabetes involves the retina and, more specifically, the network of blood vessels within it. The vessels can allow fluid or blood to leak into the retina and damage it. This can result in serious loss of vision. Treatment is available and effective to treat and indeed improve this but prevention is even better as any damage from diabetes may be permanent!

• Cataracts    

 A cataract is a gradual opacity that develops in the lens of the eye. If you’re diabetic, obese, or have a strong family history of early disease, the risk of developing cataracts can be double that of other people. Although cataracts are largely treatable, one in four cases of sight loss in people over the age of 75 is due to cataracts.

YOU COULD BE HAVING CATARACT IF YOU HAVE:

• Cloudy, fuzzy, fogging, or filmy vision
• Changes in the way you see colours.
• Problems driving at night because headlights seem too bright
• Problems with glare from lamps or the sun.
• Frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription.
• Double vision or multiple images.
• Better near vision for a while only in farsighted people.
• These symptoms also can be signs of other eye problems. See your eye doctor to find out what you have and how it can be treated.

• High Blood Pressure (hypertension)    

Signs of high blood pressure can be detected in the eye and these can cause loss of sight if the blood pressure is not treated effectively.

• Neurological disorders and other medical conditions:    

The eye is actually a complex branch of the brain and many nerve disorders can be picked up from an eye examination!

• Many medical conditions can leave signs in the eye.  Complex diseases such as connective tissue disorders, or simple high cholesterol can all be picked up with a painless eye exam!

PROCEDURE FOR EYE HEALTH SCREENING AT ANGEL EYES LASIK CENTRE

The whole process for eye health screening at Angel Eyes has been tailored to make it convenient, fast and comfortable for you. The following steps are involved in getting a complete and detailed eye health check up for all age groups:

• Step 1: Appointment and Registration
• Step 2: Preliminary Testing
• Step 3: Consultation
• Step 4: Comprehensive Eye Check up
• Step 5: Discussion and interpretation of results

STEP 1: Appointment and Registration –

Please follow the appointment schedules and process as for general eye check up. Additionally, please mention that you would like a complete eye health check up, as the time scheduling for this will be different from the general check up. The other patient specific details like age, sex etc. should be clearly stated.

Do not forget to bring all your past and present medical records.

You should expect to be here for around 2 hours.

As some dilating drops will be put in your eyes to check your retina, please bring someone along to drive you back home.

STEP 2: Preliminary Testing –

After your registration formalities are completed, you will undergo several preliminary tests which are quite similar to that done for general check up patients. However, you will additionally have all these tests done in full detail after your consultation with the specialist consultant is over. These results will help us understand better the overall status of your eye health.

Step 3: Consultation –

To do a comprehensive eye health screening the specialist consultant will be requiring not only your eye treatment records if present but also your past and present other medical records. A thorough review of all your medical records will alert him to the possibility of hidden or manifest eye problems.

Step 4: Comprehensive Eye Check up –

After reviewing the results of the preliminary testing, the specialist consultant will do a detailed examination of the external and internal structures of the eye.

This will involve various tests done in detail to ascertain the health of your eyes. This will involve 

• Detailed examination of the external structures of the eye
• Detailed examination of the internal structures of the eye
• Refraction by the consultant
• Pupil dilatation followed by fundus and retina examination
• Central Corneal Thickness
• Topography
• Retinal nerve fibre analysis
• Visual Fields
• Applanation Tonometry
• Colour Vision
• Syringing

Step 5: Discussion and interpretation of results –

Once all the tests are done and the results become available, these are discussed to help you understand the status of your eyes. Depending upon the presence or absence of risk factors, your age, family history and the status of eye health, the specialist will recommend the time interval till your next check up is required. You may discuss and clarify all your doubts regarding the tests done and their results.