How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam in the Philippines?
If you’re wondering how often you should get an eye exam in the Philippines, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s everything you need to know about getting an eye exam.
Eye exams should be an integral part of your health routine. Just as regular checkups are vital for your overall health, so too are routine eye exams for your vision. You should get them even if you don’t wear corrective eyeglasses or have eye issues, since these are the best way to monitor your eye health.
How often should you get an eye exam?
Most people would need to undergo an eye exam every 1-2 years. Even if you have 20/20 vision, an eye exam is still advisable so you can catch eye conditions early. In the Philippines, eye health is often overlooked, with an estimated 2.17 million Filipinos suffering from visual impairment, according to a study conducted by the Philippine Eye Research Institute and the Department of Health. Many people think their eyesight is fine without realizing that they already need to wear corrective lenses and glasses.
Eye exam for children
Children’s eyesight develops as they grow, so regular eye exams are needed to protect their vision. According to the American Optometric Association, children should get at least one eye exam between the ages of 3 and 5 years old, and then one again before they start school.
Eye exam for adults
If you’re between the ages of 19-64 years old, you should go to the doctor and get an eye exam at least every two years. If you have vision problems or other eye health conditions, the doctor may recommend that you get an eye exam every year.
For those aged 65 years or older, you need to get an eye exam every year. Seniors are more prone to vision issues like cataracts, presbyopia, and other health-related vision concerns.
Risk factors
Certain medical conditions can put you at a higher risk of developing an eye disease. Depending on your health status, you may be asked to get an eye exam every year or more frequently. Consult with your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Had eye injury or surgery
- Have a history of glaucoma or other eye diseases
- Wears contact lenses
- Takes medication with vision-related side effects
Vision screening vs. eye exam
Vision screening is a procedure that can detect simple vision problems, such as myopia (nearsightedness) and amblyopia (lazy eye). Most often, it involves a visual acuity test, where the sharpness or clarity of your vision will be measured at a distance of 20 feet. During the screening, you will be asked to identify letters or symbols from a chart.
While periodic vision screenings are easy and convenient, it has limitations. This procedure alone cannot detect all eye problems.
An eye exam, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive procedure that assesses your overall eye health. A comprehensive eye exam involves vision screening as a preliminary step, but it also involves other tests such as refraction, color vision, and internal and external eye exams.
Book your eye exam with George Optical’s EyeCare360
At George Optical, we go beyond your vision when it comes to checking your eye health. Our EyeCare360 service checks your eyes and your visual system as a whole. Aside from testing your visual acuity, we also check for potential abnormalities to detect any eye problems and prescribe corrective treatment as necessary.
Our EyeCare360 examination involves (but is not limited to) the following:
Visual Needs Analysis
Our eye exam begins with gathering detailed information about the patient’s case history. Then, we assess the patient’s visual needs in different settings, including home, work, school, and other leisure activities.
Visual Performance Assessment
This assessment measures the visual acuity of the eyes, both with and without corrective lenses, at near and far distances. It also includes an eye refraction test, which checks how well your eye bends the light to focus on its retina. This test often helps determine astigmatism.
Internal and External Eye Exam
Color Vision Test
Our color vision test determines your ability to distinguish between different colors, particularly between red, green, blue, and yellow.
This procedure is a visual inspection of the internal and external structures of the eyes using an ophthalmoscope and biomicroscope. In the internal eye exam, our eye doctor will examine your retina, including your optic nerve, macula, and blood vessels. Then, in the external part, the doctor will examine your eyelids, lashes, sclera (the white part of your eye), cornea (the dome-shaped outer layer), and lens for any sign of abnormalities.
George Optical offers a wide selection of eye care services that can be tailored to your individual needs. Book your comprehensive eye exam and set an appointment with us!
About the Author
Dr. Solana Co Cua
Dr. Solana Cua is a Services Professional & Manager at George Optical.
Previously, Dr. Solana was a Therapeutically Endorsed Optometrist at JOYCE Optometrists and also held positions at OPSM, Kumon, International House, the University of Melbourne, St. Luke's.
Solana received a Bachelor of Biomedicine degree from University of Melbourne and a Doctor of Optometry from University of Melbourne. She achieved the top spot in the board exam results with an impressive score of 90.51 percent.