Healthy eyes start with regular exams

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Rojek
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Repubic of Korea --  While Luke Skywalker was able to get a torpedo into a tiny thermal exhaust vent with his blast shield covering his eyes, most people can't get around by just "stretching out" their feelings. 

No, in this galaxy sight is a much relied-upon sense, and it is everyone's responsibility to take care of their eyes. 

Regular eye exams are the best way to take care of one's vision because they can detect eye problems at their earliest stage - when they're most treatable, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

The common misconception, however, is that people who don't need to wear glasses or contact lenses don't need an exam. 

"Many who don't require visual correction assume they have perfect eye health," said Maj. Dawn Werner, 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron chief of optometry. "Even if you're seeing very well, eye exams are still necessary to ensure the health of your eyes." 

Routine eye exams are a short, painless procedure that can last from 15 to 30 minutes. Every exam starts with a check of the patient's medical history, as well as their family medical history. This is done to see if the patient is at risk for ocular diseases. 

Once the medical history is established, the doctor will check the patient's visual acuity, or how well the patient is seeing. Most people will know this test as the eye chart. 

"Next we do an assessment of a patient's refractive error, which refers to being either near-sighted or far-sighted, or having astigmatism," said Major Werner. 

Refractive error tests are usually done with a mask-like device called a Phoropter, through which the patient looks. The doctor will change out different lenses to find which ones give the patient the sharpest vision. 

After the refraction, the doctor will check the pressure in the patient's eyes and, finally, do a full eye health assessment. 

"[For the health assessment], we examine the eye with a microscope and various lenses," said Major Werner. "This allows us to view tissues both outside and inside the eye." 

Once the eye exam is over and the doctor gives the patient a clean bill of ocular health, it's all done - for now. 

"For most healthy individuals, including eye glass wearers, they should have a routine eye exam every two to four years," said the major. 

Patients or individuals who require more frequent exams include those with changes in their vision, contact lens wearers, school-age children, those with a personal or family history of eye disease, and those with personal or family history of systemic disease that affects the eyes, like hypertension and diabetes, she said. 

While some people may fret about the idea of another medical examination, it is important to remember that healthy eyes allow Airmen to perform their duties. 

"We have a saying: 'Vision ready is mission ready,'" said Major Werner. 

To make an appointment for an eye exam, call the appointment line at DSN 784-3627. The optometry clinic is located in the lower level of the Osan clinic in Room LF-4101. The office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.