The benefits of diagnosing eye conditions early

Eyes, just like teeth and other parts of the body, are easy to ignore if there’s nothing wrong with them. Many of us are guilty of missing regular check-ups when we’re busy, assuming everything is okay because nothing hurts or seems wrong. However, the fact is, many eye diseases that can cause blindness aren’t always noticeable in their very early stages – at least, not without having a detailed eye exam.

The importance of regular eye tests

By having a regular eye test in London, you are ensuring your eyes remain as healthy as possible. During an eye examination, we don’t just check if you’re long or short-sighted. Glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration are just a few of the eye diseases we check for signs of during your eye exam. Adults should have an eye exam every 2 years up until age 70 and every year following that.

Advanced eye exams and OCT

While a basic eye test will cover the main potential problems, there is an advantage to upgrading to an OCT scan and eye test. OCT stands for Optical Coherence Tomography – you can almost think of it as an ultrasound scan for your eyes, using light instead of sound to produce a 3D image of the various layers of the eye. By having an OCT whenever you have a check-up, our optometrists will be able to see every part of your eye in minute detail and cross-reference past scans to see if there have been any changes. Many eye diseases that can cause blindness can be detected early using this method.

Keeping your eyes healthy 

There are certain things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy in general. Avoiding smoking and eating healthily are definitely the best things you can do to maintain overall good eye health. Foods that contain vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids are particularly good for the eyes.

Of course, the most important thing you can do is to make sure you have a regular eye test in London. Even better, we highly recommend you upgrade to an advanced eye test with an OCT scan too. If you think it’s been more than 2 years since your last check-up, why not book an appointment today at our opticians in Edgware?