Debunking Common Myths About Eye Exams

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Eye exams are a vital part of maintaining good vision and overall health, yet many misconceptions prevent people from getting them as often as they should. At Lappen Eye Care, we want to clear up some common myths about eye exams so you can make informed decisions about your eye health.

Myth #1: “I Don’t Need an Eye Exam If My Vision Is Fine”

Even if you have 20/20 vision, regular eye exams are essential. Many serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, develop without noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Routine check-ups can catch these issues before they cause permanent damage.

Myth #2: “Eye Exams Are Only for People Who Wear Glasses or Contacts”

Eye exams aren’t just about determining if you need corrective lenses. They also check the overall health of your eyes and can detect early signs of systemic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or even certain cancers.

Myth #3: “Children Don’t Need Eye Exams Unless They Complain About Vision”

Children may not realize they have vision problems because they assume everyone sees the way they do. Regular exams ensure their eyes are developing properly and help identify issues like nearsightedness or lazy eye, which can affect learning and development.

Myth #4: “I Can Skip Eye Exams Because I Use Online Vision Tests”

While online tests might give you a basic idea of your vision, they can’t assess the overall health of your eyes. Conditions like glaucoma or retinal detachment require specialized equipment and expertise, which only an in-office exam can provide.

Myth #5: “Eye Exams Are Only Necessary When Something Feels Wrong”

Many eye diseases progress silently, meaning you may not experience symptoms until they’re advanced. By the time you notice something is wrong, it may be too late to reverse the damage. Regular exams help catch issues early.

Myth #6: “All Eye Exams Are the Same”

Not all eye exams are created equal. At Lappen Eye Care, we offer comprehensive exams that go beyond vision testing to evaluate the full health of your eyes, including checking for conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Why Regular Eye Exams Matter

Eye exams are about more than just clear vision—they’re a window into your overall health. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms or not, scheduling regular check-ups with an eye doctor is one of the best ways to protect your eyesight for the future.

Schedule Your Next Eye Exam at Lappen Eye Care

At Lappen Eye Care, we believe everyone deserves exceptional eye care. With locations in Pittsburgh, McMurray, and Greensburg, we make it easy to prioritize your eye health.

Don’t let myths keep you from protecting your vision—contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Have Diabetes? How To Care For Your Eyes

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Diabetes can put you at risk for a variety of health problems, including problems with your vision. If you have diabetes, it’s important to take good care of your eyes. Making regular visits to the eye doctor in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area is important. In this article, we’ll discuss the ways diabetes can impact your vision and what you can do about it.

How Can Diabetes Affect Your Vision?

People who have diabetes are at high risk for conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and even cataracts. These conditions can affect your vision and may lead to blindness. For some of these conditions, early treatment is important. Catching the problem early can help you protect your vision.

What Can You Do to Care For Your Eyes If You Have Diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you can take care of your eyes by watching for symptoms of a problem and by visiting the eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.

Know the Signs of a Problem

Changes in your vision can happen naturally with age, but if you have diabetes, a change in your vision could be a sign of something worse. Symptoms of a vision problem include:

  • Vision becoming blurry either in central vision or peripheral vision
  • Eye pain
  • Colors becoming dim or yellow
  • Poor night vision
  • Halos around lights
  • Sensitivity to light

Get Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

A comprehensive eye exam is a special type of exam. During the exam, your eye doctor will look inside your eyes for signs of eye diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Contact Your Eye Doctor at Lappen Eye Care

If you have diabetes, you should get a comprehensive eye exam every year. Call your eye doctor at Lappen Eye Care to make an appointment.

What to Expect at Your Diabetic Eye Exam

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When diabetes is not well-controlled, excessive amounts of sugar remain in the bloodstream and can damage small blood vessels all over your body, including your eyes.

Approximately 30 percent of people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy, a condition that causes fluid and blood to leak into the retina of the eyes. This condition can cause permanent loss of vision. Diabetic macular edema is a complication of diabetic retinopathy that can cause additional or worsening vision loss.

Detecting diabetic retinopathy early is key to preventing it from robbing you of sight. People with diabetes should see an optometrist once a year compared to every other year for non-diabetic people with vision issues. We encourage you to schedule a medical eye exam in Pittsburgh, PA as soon as you receive a diagnosis of diabetes.

How Do Diabetic Eye Exams Differ from Regular Eye Exams?

The two types of exams share many similarities, with the major difference being that your optometrist focuses more on retina health and blood flow to the eyes during a diabetic eye exam. You should expect to undergo pupil dilation for this reason.

Dilating your eyes allows your optometrist to see the blood vessels, optic nerves, and retina at the back of each eye. Your optometrist dilates your eyes by placing special eye drops into the lower lid of each one. You will sit in the waiting room for about 30 minutes until your eyes become fully dilated. Blurry vision and light sensitivity are normal for a few hours after the exam.

You will also receive a fluorescein angiography during your diabetic eye exam. Your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA inserts a special dye into your arm that travels through your bloodstream and reaches your eyes. The dye makes it possible for your optometrist to detect blood vessel damage that could indicate a diabetic eye disease.

Diabetes and Eye Care: Protecting Your Vision in Pittsburgh

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Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide and can have serious consequences for your eye health. High blood sugar levels can damage the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, leading to a range of complications if not properly managed. At Lappen Eye Care, we emphasize the importance of regular eye exams for individuals with diabetes to help detect and prevent vision problems before they become severe.

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Eyes?

Diabetes can lead to several eye conditions, including:

  1. Diabetic Retinopathy:
    High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing them to leak or grow abnormally. If untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss.
  2. Diabetic Macular Edema:
    Fluid buildup in the macula (the part of the retina responsible for central vision) can cause blurry vision and make it difficult to focus.
  3. Cataracts:
    People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts, which cause clouding of the lens and reduced vision.
  4. Glaucoma:
    Diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma, a condition caused by increased pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss.

Symptoms to Watch For

While some diabetes-related eye conditions develop without early symptoms, you should be alert to signs like:

  • Blurry or fluctuating vision
  • Dark spots or floaters
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Vision loss in one or both eyes

If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to see an eye doctor immediately.

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

Individuals with diabetes should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year, even if their vision seems normal. These exams allow your optometrist to monitor changes in your eye health and detect early signs of complications.

At Lappen Eye Care, our eye exams include advanced diagnostic tools to check for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other issues. Early detection is key to preventing permanent vision loss.

Protecting Your Vision with Diabetes

In addition to regular eye exams, you can take these steps to protect your vision:

  • Control Blood Sugar: Work with your healthcare provider to keep your blood sugar levels stable.
  • Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: High levels can worsen eye problems.
  • Quit Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of diabetes-related complications.
  • Follow Your Eye Doctor’s Recommendations: If treatment is needed, early intervention is critical to preserving your vision.

Comprehensive Eye Care in Pittsburgh

At Lappen Eye Care, we specialize in caring for patients with diabetes, offering thorough exams and personalized treatment plans to safeguard your vision. With locations in Pittsburgh, McMurray, and Greensburg, we’re here to help you maintain healthy eyes for years to come.

Contact us today to schedule your diabetic eye exam and take proactive steps toward preserving your sight!

Should I Get a Diabetic Eye Exam? Why?

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If you suffer from diabetes, then getting regular diabetic eye exams can help protect and even save your vision. Diabetes is a condition that can put you at risk for a variety of other conditions, including eye diseases that can be devastating. Getting your diabetic eye exam is important. Here’s what you need to know about getting diabetic eye exams from your eye doctor in the Pittsburgh area.

What Is a Diabetic Eye Exam?
A diabetic eye exam is an eye exam that looks into the eyes for the types of conditions that people who have diabetes are at high risk for contracting. Diabetic eye exams check for conditions like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.

Who Needs a Diabetic Eye Exam?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes, contact your eye doctor for a diabetic eye exam as soon as possible. Some eye conditions have no symptoms in their early stages, which means you could be affected by a condition that you’re unaware of.

Once you have your first diabetic eye exam, come back for return exams every year. Your eye doctor will let you know if you need to return for more frequent eye exams.

What Happens if I Don’t See the Eye Doctor Regularly?
If you don’t see the eye doctor on a regular basis, you could be impacted by an eye disease that could cause deterioration of your vision, and even blindness. It’s not worth taking the risk! See an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? If so, then it’s time to get an eye exam in the Pittsburgh area. The professionals at Lappen Eye Care are happy to help – call today to make an appointment.