Comprehensive Annual Eye Exams Regular eye exams are an important tool in eye health for detecting and preventing eye diseases and evaluating the overall health of the patient. Some diseases, such as glaucoma, develop gradually without symptoms or vision loss, so patients may not notice that anything is wrong until significant and irreversible damage as been done. Early detection of eye diseases allows for a better choice of treatment options and a reduced risk of permanent damage.
Fundoscopy, especially when the pupils are dilated for a more complete view of the entire retina, allows for examination of the retina to help diagnose conditions and identify risk factors for potential vision loss associated with the retina. For example, patients with diabetes should have an annual dilated fundus examination to check the retina for signs of diabetic retinopathy that could lead to permanent or difficult-to-treat vision loss. Signs of diabetic retinopathy, which is often a sign also of systemic disease associated with diabetes, include bleeding, inflammation, lack of oxygen, and other problems with the retina that can lead to permanent vision loss. Fundoscopy can also help diagnose other diseases such as infection or inflammation in the eye that requires treatment to preserve vision.
An optical coherence tomography scan (OCT scan) is a critical device for the early diagnosis of many serious eye conditions. An OCT eye exam is a non-invasive test that provides 3-D color-coded, cross sectional images of the retina to enable early detection and treatment of ocular disease that may develop without any noticeable symptoms.
