Visiting your eye doctor on a regular basis is paramount to keeping your eyes healthy. Before you see your doctor, it’s in your best interest to be prepared for the appointment. The following are some helpful tips and important questions you should keep in mind for your next eye appointment:
Be Prepared
It greatly helps both you and your doctor if you come to your appointment prepared. Remember why you scheduled your eye appointment. Have you been having vision problems? Eye irritation? Do a little research on your symptoms so you can communicate more effectively with your eye doctor.
It doesn’t hurt to do some research on the tests you might be taking for your appointment. Be sure to read What to Expect for Your Comprehensive Eye Exam to familiarize yourself with common eye tests.
Take Notes During the Appointment
It’s difficult to retain all the information you learn from your appointment, so you should take notes. From audio recording to pen and paper, make sure you jot down any important info your eye doctor provides.
Questions to ask your eye doctor
Here are some points of discussion you should take up with your eye doctor:
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What eye tests will we be conducting?
Knowing the test that will be conducted on your eyes helps you prepare mentally. No eye tests can cause you harm, but they can go a lot faster if you’re ready to take them.
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What causes loss in vision?
Make sure to inquire about the causes of vision loss. There could be things you’re doing now that, in the long run, will ruin your vision.
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Are there treatments for my eye defect?
Discuss all the possible options with your eye doctor if you have an eye condition like astigmatism. Are you thinking of getting contact lenses or laser eye correction surgery or regular eyeglasses? Discussing options helps you to make the best decision.
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Do these tests have side effects?
The only common side effect of eye tests is pupil dilation. In order for eye doctors to most accurately observe your eyes, eye drops are applied to increase the surface area of your pupils. When this happens, be sure to come to the appointment with someone who can drive you home, as it is very dangerous to drive while dilated.
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