Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions which optometrists are faced with are provided here for your information.

When should my child have his/her first eye exam?

A child's first eye exam should be at the age of 3 and yearly afterwards.  If any problems are noticed prior to this, an  optometrist should be seen earlier.

What are some warning signs that my child should have an eye exam?

Children should be monitored carefully since they may not know they are having vision problems.  Often the trouble is only with one eye so the child can still function normally and therefore not realize that something is wrong.  Since both eyes need to function normally and together, routine exams by an optometrist are extremely important.  Some signs and symptoms which should be evaluated by an optometrist are listed below.

squinting
covering one eye
holding a book close to read
sitting close to the television
stumbling or walking into objects
missing steps while walking
lack of interest or problems with school/homework
frequent headaches

These are just a few signs and symptoms that you may notice.  If there are any concerns that your child may not be seeing their best, an eye health examination should be scheduled with your optometrist.

Why do contact lenses have to be fit?

A contact lens fitting is an extremely important exam which needs to be performed by an optometrist before wearing contacts.  Every person has a different corneal curvature and every contact lens has a different shape and size.  Furthermore, each brand of contact lenses has a slightly different fit on the eye depending on the patient.  A misfit contact lens can cause a lack of oxygen to the eye which results in discomfort, redness, and even corneal ulcers.  Vision can be permanently damaged if a contact lens is not fitting correctly and therefore needs to be done by an optometrist. 

Why do my contact lenses have to be checked every year if I have already had a fitting?

Contact lenses should be evaluated on a regular basis by an optometrist even though a fit has been performed since the fit can change over time.  Subtle signs can appear which reflect damage being caused to the eye by an ill-fitting contact lens.  A yearly evaluation by your optometrist ensures not only a proper fitting healthy contact lens, but also the correct prescription.

Why do my pupils have to be dilated?

Pupil dilation is an extremely important test that needs to be done by an optometrist or ophthalmologist in order to evaluate the entire retina.  Without dilation, it is not possible to see the extreme periphery of the back of the eye and subtle problems can be easily missed.  Dilation is a preventative method whereby diseases or conditions which can severely and permanently damage vision can be caught and treated before they do so.  Several eye conditions are completely asymptomatic when they first begin.  Obviously, an optometrist would much rather make the diagnosis and treat the condition before any loss of vision is evident.  Dilated eye exams are routinely performed by the optometrist at Island Eyecare.

What does 20/20 vision mean?

20/20 vision is perfect eyesight.  Anything larger than 20/20 (ex. 20/400) is poorer vision.  What these numbers actually refer to is that if someone having 20/400 vision compares themselves to a person having 20/20 vision, they will be able to see an object from 20 feet away while the person with perfect 20/20 vision will see the same object from 400 feet away.