Maybe you’ve been undergoing routine eye exams for most of your adult life and staying up to date with eyeglass prescriptions as needed to keep your vision sharp. Maybe you’re one of those people who hasn’t seen an eye doctor in decades because you see just fine. In either scenario, there is quite a lot that can be flying below the radar. At Central Florida Eye Institute, we welcome people of all ages to visit us for regular eye exams as well as cosmetic concerns and advanced eye disease. Here’s why a visit to our comprehensive eye center can be beneficial for you.
Eye Doctors are Not all the Same
There are three types of eye professionals that may be referred to as an “eye doctor:”
- This eye professional is the technician who can help you choose your eyeglass frames and lenses or contact lenses. An optician is more of a front office position and is not involved in the diagnosis or treatment of eye conditions.
- A doctor of optometry (OD) is a physician who has been trained to diagnose vision and eye health problems. An optometrist can treat refractive errors with eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions and may prescribe medication to treat certain eye diseases.
- A medical or osteopathic doctor with specific training in the full spectrum of eye health, an ophthalmologist has completed at least 8 years of education after college. An ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye diseases with in-office modalities, prescription medication, or surgery.
Why Ophthalmic Exams are Vital to Long Term Vision
Getting your vision tested every so often is a good thing because it provides you with current information about how your eyes are working. However, an average eye exam that screens vision is only covering the basics. Many eye diseases do not present warning signs until they have begun to affect vision. Once visual symptoms of eye disease occur, there may be no way to restore the full range of vision.
An ophthalmic exam observes the vital structures of the eye to assess overall integrity and function. This exam can identify increased pressure in the eye, which presents a risk to the optic nerve (and sight). A comprehensive exam looks at the retina, aqueous fluid, cornea, and all other structures. In so doing, this exam can observe the earliest signs of eye disease and provide ample time to determine the best course of action to protect vision.
At Central Florida Eye Institute, patients receive convenient care and also have access to advanced treatments including:
- Cataract removal
- LASIK laser vision correction
- Cosmetic eyelid surgery
- Corneal transplant
Schedule a visit to our Ocala office at (352) 237-8400.