Booking a visit to your opticians is an important appointment for you to make. Ensuring your eyesight is healthy and working correctly is essential for your day to day life. When you go to your appointment, don’t feel afraid to ask questions. Your optician will always welcome any questions you have about the appointment, the eye test and your eye health. Asking questions is important as it gives you an in-depth insight into your eye health and how you can improve it and keep your eyes healthy.
If you aren’t sure what to ask, here is a list of questions we’d recommend asking.
General Questions
1. What Can I Do To Improve My Eye Health?
This is an important question to ask as it will help to keep your eyes working well and reduce the risk of eye conditions. There may be certain lifestyle choices that you can change in order to improve your eye health such as stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, taking multivitamins etc.
2. What Kind Of Tests Are Involved In The Eye Exam?
Understanding what kind of eye tests you will be undergoing during your eye exam will help you to understand what your optician is looking for in your eyes. If you have got an eye condition, you will understand which part of your eye has a problem and how it will affect your overall vision.
3. Where Can I find Information and Advice on Eye Health?
Your optician will gladly be able to give you a list of websites or leaflets on eye health and different eye conditions. This will help you understand how to keep your eyes healthy and what symptoms to look out for.
4. How Often Do You Recommend I Return For An Eye Test?
Whilst the general recommendation for a healthy adult is one eye test every two years, this can vary for different people. You may need an eye test at least once a year if you have an eye condition or are at risk of getting one. Asking your optician will help you plan your next appointment.
If You Have A New Eye Prescription or Condition
1. What Is The Cause Of My Vision Loss?
Understanding what has caused your vision problems can help you improve your eye health in the future. If it has been caused by things such as eye strain or lifestyle choices, you will be able to make changes in order to prevent your eyesight from getting worse. If your vision loss has been caused by a genetic or hereditary condition, you will be able to recommend that your children and relatives get checked.
2. Am I Safe To Drive?
Some eye conditions are unsafe to drive with. Finding out if your eye condition will make it unsafe for you to drive will prevent you from breaking the law. Continuing to drive with certain eye conditions is illegal, you could be arrested or fined.
3. How Effective Is Treatment?
Different eye conditions have different treatments. Some eye conditions can be reversed with certain treatments depending on the progression of the eye condition. Understanding how effective the treatment is in maintaining your current vision.
4. Are Any Other Treatments Available?
With some eye conditions, there are various treatments available, including laser eye surgery and eye surgery. Knowing what kind of treatments are available and what the benefits and risk of each one include will help you decide which treatment is right for you.
5. Is There Anything I Need to Avoid?
You may find that you need to may need to make lifestyle changes if you have a new eye condition or prescription. Knowing what things you need to avoid can help prevent your vision from getting worse.
If you have any questions you’d like answered, we’re more than happy to help. Our expert team are available to give you the information you need to feel confident with your eyesight.
If you are due for an eye exam, book an appointment at your local Harrold’s branch. We are an award-winning optometrists with an expert team who are always happy to help.
Book your appointment here: https://harroldopticians.mysight.uk/
