Vision Care

Vision is perhaps the most important of our senses, providing us with so much information about the world around us. Many of the common disorders and diseases of the eye occur in large part due to our own genetic constitution, personal health history, and eventually the natural aging process over which we have little control. Other factors, including environmental, medical, nutritional and lifestyle can influence not only whether we develop certain diseases, but how rapidly they progress. These may be factors that we can better control.

One of the most important factors that we can control is the routine evaluation of the health of our eyes. The onset of many eye diseases is often painless and gradual, and may not even be noticeable. If not diagnosed and treated at an opportune time, they may become more difficult to treat and can lead to serious problems. It is also often said that the eye is "the window to the soul”. In fact, during the course of an eye exam, an eye doctor may be able to detect the early onset of certain diseases of general health, such as diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), thyroid problems, inflammatory and infectious diseases, and neurological conditions such as multiple clerosis.

In order to keep the eyes in optimal condition, it is recommended that individual of all ages (beginning as early as age 3) receive routine medical eye examinations. The eye doctor will take into consideration several factors in recommending repeat evaluations, but these usually occur every two years until age 65, after which examinations are recommended yearly.