"WHY DO I NEED AN EYE EXAM?" Even if you don't think you need glasses, regular checkups are still an important part of your preventive well being. Most people feel that if they see well and their eyes do not hurt, that they don't need an eye checkup. Nothing could be further from the truth. Certain problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, will typically not give any symptoms in their early stages. Left untreated, these conditions have the potential to cause significant vision loss and damage to the eye, which in turn can have a significant impact on your overall well being. Periodic dilated, comprehensive eye exams are an easy way to prevent damage to the visual system before it is too late. Likewise, being checked for the need for prescription glasses or changes in your prescription can produce added benefits. So remember, a yearly eye exam can ultimately pay big benefits in terms of seeing and the health of your eyes.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT AN EYE EXAM: Comprehensive eye exams should include the following: 1. Visual Acuity Test at both far & near, with & without glasses, to determine how well you can see at all distances. 2. Muscle alignment, eye coordination & eye teaming. These tests are to ensure that there is not a turned eye or a muscle that over or under reacts in either eye. These skills can affect depth perception. 3. External Eye Health - A thorough check of the external structures of the eye, with a special microscope that allows magnification of all structures to ensure that all systems are normal. 4. Internal Eye Health - Dilating eye drops are typically used to allow an enhanced visualization of the internal structures of the eye. Without dilating drops the doctor's view of the interior of the eye is very limited and may not reveal subtle problems that might exist. 5. Testing for Glaucoma - which may involve the use of eye drops or an instrument that uses a puff of air to determine the internal pressure in your eye. 6. Prescription for Glasses/Contact Lenses - Last but not least is the accurate determination of the strength of glasses or contacts that may be needed. This is to ensure optimum vision and comfort. During your next eye exam, if you have questions concerning any of the testing that we do, please feel free to ask and we can explain what we are doing & why we are doing it.

GLAUCOMA: THE SNEAK THIEF OF VISION: While it is estimated that there are 4 million Americans with glaucoma, only about 50% have actually been diagnosed with the disease. This can be a result of people not getting a regular eye exam because they thought they were seeing well and had no eye pain. In addition to the fact that glaucoma can be a difficult disease for eye doctors to diagnose in its early stages. Even with all the modern technology available to eye doctors today, the diagnosis can be illusive. Most people believe that a pressure reading of their eye's "internal pressure" is that all it takes to diagnose glaucoma, there is much more testing involved. Indeed a high pressure is a high risk factor for glaucoma, but also family history, thickness of the cornea, age and appearance of the optic nerve are all crucial to the diagnosis of glaucoma. Because in 99% of the cases glaucoma has no symptoms, thorough eye exams, with dilation is an important step in diagnosing & treating glaucoma.

FYI: 1. According to experts in eye care, 25% of all school children have vision problems 2. Two out of three children in the United States do not receive any preventative vision care before they start school. 3. Smoking increases the risk of macular degeneration by up to 28 times, because it cuts down on the amount of oxygen that gets to the retina. 4. According to one study ( Nurses Health Study), a 45% decrease in the need for cataract surgery was found for those who took a vitamin C supplement for more than 10 years. 5. IOL's (intra occular lens implants) after cataract surgery can now correct both near and distance vision as well most types of astigmatism. 6. Polycarbonate lenses and Transition Lenses (lenses that lighten & darken) block out 100% of the ultra violet light that can be harmful to your eyes.

Dr Mueller just returned from International Vision Expo West, held in Las Vegas. It is one of the world's largest eye conferences and exhibitions of eye equipment and products. Internationally renowned speakers on a variety of eye topics gathered to share some of the newest concepts in eye care. Dr Mueller completed 15 hours of continuing education classes covering numerous current topics and treatment modalities for eyes.