A visit to your optician is more than just an opportunity to change your glasses because an eye test is so much more than that. When an optometrist examines your eyes they are able to detect indications of different conditions that may threaten your sight and in extreme case even your life. More importantly an eye test can uncover possible conditions you have had no symptoms of at all and thereby catch them at an early stage.

Life threatening

A recent case in North Yorkshire, England illustrates the point perfectly, a patient was rushed to hospital shortly after an eye test. The hospital optometrist confirmed the findings of the first eye test, the patient had a tumor in her right eye. and life saving surgery followed in a matter of days.

The patient visited the optician after experiencing blurred vision and when the eye test revealed a raised area on the retina she was quickly referred to hospital. Unfortunately the eye could not be saved because the tumor was too advanced but if the original optometrist hadn't seen the tumor during the eye test this patient could have lost their life.

Regular eye tests

This shows it's really important to have regular eye tests and I would urge everyone to visit an optician for an annual eye test or sooner if suffering disturbed vision.

Instances like this are rare but they do occur which is why opticians recommend a complete eye test and examination every two years. More frequent checks are recommended from around the age of 45 when many people begin to need glasses for reading and close work.

Regular eye tests are an essential part of routine health care and the above case shows how important eye tests are to peoples health.

Eye test secrets revealed...

During a routine eye test opticians can spot the early signs of several potential health problems, and often before the client is aware of them and it is for this reason that eye tests are so important. In my own case I was diagnosed with Glaucoma when I was just 28 and was one of the youngest people they had ever found with congenital glaucoma purely from an eye test.

Incidents like this happen everyday at opticians across the world so next time you book an eye test don't just think of it as time for new glasses but more like an overall health check and an opportunity to change your glasses too if you really want to...

The author, John Buckle was lucky enough to discover he had Glaucoma before serious damage had occured and now has an interest in eye care Lasik Center For Corrective Eye Surgery