Why do you need an eye test?

Many thousands of people in the UK today have an eye disease but don't know it. You could be one of them. By the time you notice that your vision is affected, it may be too late to save your sight.

We believe that regular eye examinations are essential for everyone from young children to the elderly. The RNIB recommends adults should be tested at least once every two years and children once every six months. Additionally, you should be extra vigilant about being tested regularly if:

You are over 40 as people over 40 are more at risk of developing glaucoma.

There is a history of glaucoma in your immediate family as you are therefore more at risk of developing it yourself.

You are of African-Caribbean origin as you are more at risk of developing glaucoma and at a younger age. You should ask for these three tests: the inner and outer eye tests, the field of vision test and the eye pressure test, if you are over 25 years old.

You have diabetes as this can lead to sight loss if not treated. You should ask for the three additional tests and also dilating eye drops.

Drivers and VDU users should also ensure they are tested regularly.

An eye test normally lasts between 15-30 minutes.

Children

Good eye care is imperative in the early years of life to enable diagnosis and treatment of any visual problems. This is because after the age of about five years the eyes have become fully developed and any problems that have been left undetected and uncorrected may now render the child with amblyopia (lazy eyes).
This condition is extremely difficult to treat and can have far reaching consequences on the child's progress through life, not to mention future career prospects. The eyes also change quite rapidly as children grow and errors such as hypermetropia (long sightedness) or myopia (short sightedness) need to be carefully monitored on a regular basis until they level, generally, in the late teens or early twenties.
We like to see children up to the age of 18 years every six months. The eye examination fees for children under the age of 16 and those under 19 in full time education are covered by the FHSA and we strongly urge all parents to take advantage of this.

Adults

Most people only consult an optometrist when they experience blurred vision or some sort of visual pain or discomfort. However, it must be pointed out there are several illnesses affecting the eyes and the body which can be picked up during a routine eye examination at a very early stage, in time for treatment, thereby preventing serious problems later on.

Glaucoma Screening

Eye Style and Savaspex Opticians offer three tests within the glaucoma screening process:

Ophthalmoscopy - this examines the back of the eye and, amongst other things, looks at the appearance of the optic nerve (affected in glaucoma).

The Intraocular Pressure is measured - one of the main causes of glaucoma is a rise in the pressure of the eyeball.

The field of vision is plotted - this test is done as standard on over 40s. In younger people it is usually only done if first two give suspicious results. It is discussed below:

Visual Field Analysis using the Humphrey Field Analyser

This test gives valuable information not only in terms of glaucoma but regarding the entire visual pathway from the optic nerve to the brain - previously unknown brain tumours have been picked up with this test.

Visual field testing or perimetry is an important clinical function which refers to the testing of the peripheral field of the eye. The patient looks at a central spot while lights of different intensities are projected inside a bowl. If a patient sees the light in peripheral vision he or she indicates by pushing a button. Analysis of this data allows the optometrist to construct the map of the visual response of the retina and other neurological tissues. This is called the visual field.

The visual field enables us to make certain determinations about the health of the eye and neurological system. It is particularly important in detecting glaucoma and monitoring the treatment of this disease.

We at Eye Style and Savaspex have chosen the Humphrey Field Analyser because it is the latest in technology and is fast becoming the standard instrument by hospital consultants. This is a sophisticated device which contains a microprocessor to record test data and provide a visual field map. By using it the optometrist can screen for various diseases which are often difficult to detect. Extensive diagnostic analysis is also possible so that the extent of any problems can be determined and also measured. It also gives computer printouts so that effectiveness of medical treatment can be determined at each visit.