Since 1989, September has been known as “Save Your Sight Month” in an effort to encourage people to get their eyes checked regularly.

As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul—and they’re also the window to your overall health. Problems with your vision can be an indicator of eye health and even your overall health, and a comprehensive eye exam is most effective means of diagnosing serious eye conditions.

Serious eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration often have no early symptoms and can only be detected in the early stages through an eye exam. When left undiagnosed and untreated, these eye conditions can lead to permanent vision loss.

Signs you may need an eye exam

Healthy adults should have a routine eye exam every one to two years, but there are some signs and symptoms that may warrant an immediate appointment with your eye doctor. Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor today if you notice:

• Decreasing or double vision
• Eye pain
• Red eye or eye drainage
• Diabetes
• Flashes or floaters
• Circles or halos around light

What to expect from your eye exam

During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will run a series of tests to look for signs of eye disease and/or vision impairment. A comprehensive exam may include procedures including (but not limited to):

• Measurements of visual activity
• Tests of specific vision functions
• Eye health evaluation
• Refraction tests
• Eye focusing, eye teaming and eye movement testing

What your doctor finds during your exam will help guide the exam and may call for supplemental tests. Your eye doctor will also provide recommendations for treatment and/or vision correction, if necessary. Recommendations may include contact lenses, prescription glasses or LASIK eye surgery.

Before you go in for your exam, make note of your family eye health history before you see your eye doctor. Many eye conditions are hereditary, and a family history of some eye conditions may put you at higher risk of developing these conditions.

Take action to save your sight and call the Dallas vision experts at the Key-Whitman Eye Center to schedule your comprehensive eye exam today.