When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't know what I was going to do. After the devastation subsided, I decided to take a very standard, western approach to my healing. Although initial efforts were successful, my cancer recurred a few months later. I endured many additional months of treatment before I started focusing on myself. I decided it was time to incorporate complimentary alternative treatments into my healing regimen, including massage therapy. I can't even begin to tell you how much it changed my life. My healing became a process, instead of something I simply had to endure. I hope that the articles on my website can inspire you to stay open-minded about your own healthcare.
Your eyesight is one of your most important senses, which is why it's absolutely essential to schedule regular eye exams. In examining your eyes, your doctor will determine if you need eyeglasses or contacts (or need to change your prescription). He or she will also check your eyes for any signs of eye disease, judging how well your eyes work and evaluating them as part of your overall health. Catching a problem early can literally save your sight.
What the Eye Doctor Checks For
While checking your eyes to determine if you have problems, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism, an eye doctor will also look for indications of other problems, including:
Strabismus: This problem is often referred to as "crossed eyes." When looking for this, your doctor will check to see if your eyes are properly aligned and are working in unison. If you have strabismus, you may experience problems with depth perception. This can often lead to another condition known as amblyopia.
Amblyopia: This condition happens when your eyes are misaligned or when one of your eyes is a very different prescription. Often, your brain will simply turn off the image coming in from the blurry eye. If this condition isn't untreated, it can damage the development of the eye. Amblyopia is usually treated by temporarily applying a patch to the healthy eye.
General Eye Diseases: There are number of eye diseases (including diabetic eye disease and glaucoma) that don't show any obvious symptoms early on. An eye doctor will be able to examine the overall health of your eyes for any indicators of disease. When these problems are detected early, it's usually possible to address them and reduce the chance of permanent vision loss.
The Difference Between a Complete Eye Exam and a Screening
Vision screenings are simple eye tests that are frequently carried out by pediatricians, school nurses or even volunteers. For example, the eye test you get at the DMV is a vision screening. While one of these tests might indicate that you should get an eye exam and glasses, it definitely doesn't substitute for an exam from an eye doctor. To have a comprehensive eye exam, you have to visit an eye doctor capable of testing every feature of your vision. After the exam, your eye doctor will be able to recommend a treatment plan (assuming you need one). Depending on the condition of your eyes, your treatment plan might include eyeglasses, contacts, exercises, medication or surgery.
Share19 January 2015
