Most people prefer to postpone an eye test as long as possible. However, it is important to have the health of your eyes checked regularly. Experts advise people aged 60 and over to do this annually. But what can you pay attention to for an ideal eye test?
The importance of an eye test
People easily skip or postpone an eye test, just like a periodic check-up at the dentist. However, it is very important to have this done regularly. This way you will find out in time if the health of your eyes is deteriorating. The advice for people aged 16 and over is to have an eye test every 2 to 3 years. For people over 60, the advice is even given every year, due to a greater risk of developing eye diseases. If you experience eye complaints, it is wise to make an appointment with the ophthalmologist immediately. The sooner you discover your eye problems, the greater the chance that something can be done about it.
Online eye tests are also available. This is a useful addition to, but not a replacement for, a physical eye test. You can make an appointment with an optician for an eye test. In some cases they will refer you to an ophthalmologist, for example if you regularly suffer from irritated eyes.
This way you ensure optimal eye measurement
Various factors influence the results of your eye test. It is wise to take this into account to ensure a reliable result. How often you blink determines how much tear fluid you produce. In an earlier article we mentioned that people who look at a screen blink up to 70 percent less. If you’ve been sitting in front of a screen all day, your eyes may be dry and tired. This affects the outcome of your eye test. It is wise to drink something before your eye test, but preferably do not drink coffee or alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol increase your blood pressure. The optician can detect high blood pressure on the inside of your eye. It would be a shame if caffeine and alcohol intake led to the wrong results. In addition, your eyes may become dry after drinking alcohol.
Wearing contact lenses can also influence the results. It is therefore advisable to wear glasses instead of lenses for the last 24 hours before having an eye test. If you have dry eyes as a result of medication, your eye test result will also be different. If you are only using the medication temporarily, you can postpone the eye test until you are no longer using it.
Ideal time
The time of an eye test also influences the result. The results are most accurate at a time of the day when you feel fit and rested. This may differ per person, but for most people this is the case in the morning. Make sure your eyes get enough rest during the day if you schedule the eye test later in the day.
(Source: Health Net, Vision Direct, Hans Anders, Zeiss, Total Vision. Photo: Shutterstock)
