Six Things Your Vision Tester Should Know

By Carmella Watts


Most people visit their vision tester once a year. If you are one of those people who have yet to do this, then you should be aware that there are several things an eye doctor needs to know about you. This is because the more they know, the better the position they should be in to provide you with above-average healthcare.

Upon first contact they will probably ask you about your health in general and about any current medical problems like high blood pressure. If you are a pregnant woman you need to explain this, as the eyes can be affected by not only health issues but also by changes to the body.

As much as the doctor needs to know the present health record of a patient, they also should know their past, and this goes for illnesses within the family. What may seem fairly mundane things might be of great importance to visual health. Things like glaucoma, macular degeneration and past history of other eye problems could be inherited. The chances of getting these yourself may also be increased, meaning the doctor will most probably be looking for them in an exam. If you have had eye surgery in the past or any trauma related to the eyes that should be explained too.

Do not underestimate the straightforward things, such as changes in visual acuity. These should be reported to the eye doctor because if there are problems with blurred vision, or if floaters and spots appear more often in the vision, these could be signs of something important. Things like increased light sensitivity and flashes before the eyes are something they might wish to know about too. Any eye-wear that is regularly worn should be brought to the appointment, as the specialist may wish to examine them.

If you are on medication the doctor really should be told of this. Whether it's prescription medication or not, it could well cause complications if the specialist prescribes something that reacts to your other treatments.

Despite the obvious temptation to refrain from telling the specialist everything about your life, it's very important to let them know about your present lifestyle. Social habits often dictate our level of health and these habits can also have an affect on the vision. Things like smoking and alcohol consumption could cause problems with our vision if driven to excess. Another factor is your occupation. Those how are in front of a computer for much of the day, and those who read a lot, should explain this to the doctor.

Those who wear contact lenses will probably have several things to discuss. The specialist could have many questions about their usage and form the answers may be able to determine if your usage is harming your eyes. They will most likely wish to ascertain if you swim in them, how long they are worn throughout the day before being taken out, and how often that are cleaned.

When seeing a vision tester, it might be tempting to think that certain bits of information are too trivial for them to care about. However, by providing accurate and thorough information, you're more likely to get better treatment and more likely to have better eyesight.




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