Why Your Eye Doctor Recommends Dilated Eye Exams
- Posted on: Oct 15 2020
Eye exams are meant to evaluate how well we can see. We all need a good eye exam from time to time, right? Yes, and also there is more. Eye exams do screen a person to measure how they see at the time of their appointment. From year to year, this measurement can be followed to observe changes. While the purpose of eye exams is to measure vision, there is more to this process than reading letters on a chart. To get a full picture of how well you see today and how well you may see years from now, your doctor needs to see all of your eye.
Dilated eye exams or digital retinal exams are a must for every adult at some point. The retina is a small area at the back of the eye, a piece of tissue that takes the rays of light that pass through the front of the eye and sends them to the brain. These rays of light travel via the optic nerve, which is attached to the retina. Both are attached to the back wall of the eye. Like the cornea and other parts of the eye, the retina is a crucial aspect of vision. Also, it is a part of the eye that can sustain damage. When the retina is damaged, a few concerning conditions may develop. These include:
- Age-related macular degeneration. The center of the retina is called the macula. This is the tiny piece of tissue that supports central vision. Sometimes, the macula thins. The degeneration of this part of the eye can lead to the loss of central vision.
- Retinal detachment. Aging or injury can cause the retina to pull away from the back wall of the eye. This may happen only partially, as a retinal tear, or it may occur as a full detachment. Prompt treatment is necessary to prevent irreversible damage.
- This common eye disease affects the optic nerve attached to the retina. It occurs when the pressure within the eye is excessive. With too much pressure, the optic nerve gets compressed, limiting its function. Proper management is necessary to reduce the risk of vision loss.
- Diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes can affect vein health throughout the body. Because the blood vessels in the eyes are so tiny, they are vulnerable to weakening. Diabetic retinopathy describes the swelling and leakage that occurs when blood vessels are too weak.
Patients of Silverstein Eye Center receive comprehensive exams and services to keep their eyes as healthy as possible. To schedule your visit at our Chester, NJ office, call 908.879.7297.
Posted in: Eye Exam
