Eye exams are a cornerstone of healthy vision. They are crucial in assessing the need for vision correction (e.g., prescription eyeglasses, LASIK surgery), as well as for diagnosing eye conditions (and even other health conditions) in their early stages, when they are typically easier to treat.
At Linda Vision, Los Angeles and Monterey Park ophthalmologists Dr. Linda Vu, and optometrist Dr. Jenny Soo Hoo are invested in helping you and your family maintain healthy eyes and vision. They offer comprehensive eye exams for patients of all ages and can help you determine how often you should get your eyes examined based on your personal visual needs and goals.
Why Eye Exams Are Important
Many individuals are inclined to get their eyes checked only when they experience changes in their vision, pain or discomfort. While these are certainly good reasons to have an eye exam, it is just as important to have regular eye exams, even when you are not experiencing any symptoms. Many eye diseases, including glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, do not exhibit any visual symptoms in their early stages. In fact, many people are unaware that there is a problem until a disease has advanced significantly. An eye exam with a board-certified eye doctor (an ophthalmologist or optometrist) can detect eye diseases in their early stages, before irreversible vision loss or damage has occurred.
Eye exams also provide a glimpse into one’s overall health. Some health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers, cause changes within the eyes’ internal structures. If our doctors detect something abnormal in the eyes, we can alert your general physician immediately to conduct the appropriate medical tests.
When to Schedule an Eye Exam
Ultimately, how often you should get an eye exam will depend on several factors, including age, medical history and risk of developing eye diseases. For instance, if you have a family history of glaucoma, you will need to undergo an eye exam more frequently than an individual without family history of the eye disease. If you are diabetic, you will also need to have your eyes examined more frequently than someone who is not. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that healthy individuals have regular eye exams at the following ages:
- At 6 months of age for infants
- At age 3 and then again 5 or 6 for young children
- Every two years for grade-school children and teenagers
- Every two years for adults ages 18 to 60
- Once a year or as recommended for children and adults who wear prescription eyewear
What to Expect During Your Eye Exam
Your eye exam with Linda Vision will involve a number of tests designed to evaluate your vision and eye health. All tests are painless and can be completed in a matter of minutes at our office. The specific exams used will depend on your visual needs and will be determined by our team. Your eye exam can include any of the following:
- Visual acuity test to measure how sharp vision is
- Cover test to check eye alignment and determine how well your eyes work together
- Color blindness test to screen for color blindness
- Slit lamp exam to examine the internal structures of the eye
- Glaucoma test to measure the intraocular pressure inside the eyes
- Visual field test to check for blind spots
- Pupil dilation to get a better view of the eye’s internal structures
How to Schedule Your Eye Exam with Linda Vision
Eye exams with Linda Vision are gentle yet thorough. Led by trusted ophthalmologists (Dr. Linda Vu) and optometrist (Dr. Jenny Soo Hoo), our team is compassionate to your needs, and we do our utmost to provide personalized treatment.
To schedule a comprehensive eye exam for you or your family, contact Linda Vision. Call (626) 382-2020 or email our Monterey Park office today at [email protected].