FAQ
Welcome to our frequently asked questions page! Here, you'll find answers to common questions about our services, appointments, and eye care. From insurance coverage and first visit tips to eye health advice, we aim to make your experience with Southern Eye Care smooth and informed. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to contact our team—we’re always here for you!
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4 in 10 Americans don’t know how to take good care of their eyes.
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A quarter of Americans don’t think they need an eye exam if their vision is clear—and nearly half of millennials agree.
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Half of Americans (52%) don’t know that an eye disease diagnosis is part of a standard comprehensive eye exam.
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Comprehensive eye exams safeguard overall health by enabling the doctor to detect more than 270 serious health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancers.
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A comprehensive eye exam includes a range of tests in order to do a complete evaluation of the health of your eyes and your vision. Not only can your doctor of optometry assess your eye health, they can identify symptoms of conditions elsewhere in the body like brain tumors, aneurysms, high blood pressure and diabetes.
*All of the above data is from the American Optometric Association. What's a doctor of optometry? | AOA
Eye exams aren’t one-size-fits-all, but once every other year is a good schedule for patients younger than 60 who don’t need new glasses or contact lens prescriptions. For older patients and patients with risk factors, once a year is better. Keep in mind that the eye doctor is often the first one to spot early signs of chronic diseases like hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes! One more reason to stay on top of those appointments!
When we determine a patient’s visual acuity, we use fractions. A person who has 20/20 vision can see details pretty clearly from a distance of 20 feet. The bigger the bottom number gets, the worse the patient’s vision is compared to that baseline. Some people are even lucky enough to have better vision than 20/20! However, there’s more to good eyesight than 20/20 vision, which is why eye exams are so important.
This is a pretty common myth. If we need glasses, then not wearing them won’t prevent our visual acuity from getting worse. It only seems that way because the difference between sharp, detailed vision and fuzzy vision is obvious, but the difference between fuzzy and fuzzier vision isn’t as noticeable. So don’t miss out on the benefits of glasses based on this idea!
Another reason people might believe this myth is that new glasses or contacts sometimes take a few days to get used to, and that period can include symptoms like headaches and eye strain. That isn’t because your eyes are getting worse, they’re just adapting! (Our eyes are pretty cool, even when they need corrective lenses.)
We call these odd transparent caterpillar-looking things “floaters.” The older we get, the more the protein fibers in our eyes clump together, which makes them less transparent. Sometimes they drift into the path of our field of vision and cast shadows on our retinas. They can be distracting, but a few floaters are nothing to worry about. However, if you suddenly notice a lot of them, get to an eye doctor fast; it could be a symptom of retinal detachment.
Many people experience digital eye strain after long hours in front of a screen (whether desktop or mobile). It won’t result in long-term damage, but the short-term symptoms can be unpleasant enough on their own. A great trick to avoid the effects of eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every twenty minutes, simply look away from the screen and spend twenty seconds focusing on something at least twenty feet away to give your eyes a break! You can set timers until it becomes a habit.
Sometimes, you might see small things that look like cobwebs or spots in your vision. They are protein fibers that can clump together and cause a “floater.” Most of the time, 1 or 2 floaters are nothing to worry about; however, if you see a lot of them suddenly or bright flashes of light, you need to see an eye doctor right away.
Even if you are using extended wear lenses, it is best to remove your contacts when you go to sleep. Wearing your lenses while sleeping will increase your risk for an eye infection. Also, keep in mind that the contact lenses sit on the eye directly, which decreases the amount of oxygen that is available.
Helpful Facts
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4 in 10 Americans don’t know how to take good care of their eyes.
-
A quarter of Americans don’t think they need an eye exam if their vision is clear—and nearly half of millennials agree.
-
Half of Americans (52%) don’t know that an eye disease diagnosis is part of a standard comprehensive eye exam.
-
Comprehensive eye exams safeguard overall health by enabling the doctor to detect more than 270 serious health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancers. (should this be on the landing page?)
-
A comprehensive eye exam includes a range of tests in order to do a complete evaluation of the health of your eyes and your vision. Not only can your doctor of optometry assess your eye health, they can identify symptoms of conditions elsewhere in the body like brain tumors, aneurysms, high blood pressure and diabetes.
*All data from the American Optometric Association (What's a doctor of optometry? | AOA)