What to Expect from Eye Doctors

Many people assume that they don’t need to visit an eye doctor until they are experiencing problems with their vision or their eyes. However, this is decidedly not the case; health experts recommend getting an eye exam at least once every two to three years. These exams are important opportunities for your doctor to catch the beginnings of any potential health risks to your eyes, like diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, and other conditions that are already well-advanced by the time you notice them. The following information gives you a sense of what to expect when you visit eye doctors in Cary.

What Will Happen at My Visit?

When you get to your doctor’s office, you’ll most likely be asked to fill out and update some paperwork. Then an eye doctor will see you and inquire about your health and the health history of your family, particularly regarding eye conditions. Your doctor, or an aide, may administer a tonometry test, where a puff of air tests the pressure in your eyeballs to detect glaucoma. Then your doctor will test your vision, evaluating your ability to see and distinguish pictures, colors, and words from various distances and depths. Your doctor may use a variety of tests that assess how well your eyes work together, how strong your eye muscles are, how sensitive your pupils are to light, and so on. Finally, your eye doctor will examine your eyes up close, with magnifying instruments and possibly a dilator (which are drops to make your pupils wider and can cause blurry vision for several hours).  

What Symptoms Indicate I Need to See an Eye Doctor?

Though you should plan regular visits to your eye doctor, some symptoms require an immediate visit. For example, silver or copper-colored arteries in your eyeballs may indicate high blood pressure (also called hypertension). Untreated, hypertension can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you notice a mole inside your eye (typically on the colored part), this may indicate eye cancer from sun exposure. Cancer can spread quickly, destroying surrounding tissue, so look for eye doctors in Cary who can see you immediately if you notice this.