Is Your Vision Correction Right For Your Lifestyle? 3 Tips For Talking To Your Eye Doctor
An annual eye exam is a great opportunity to talk with your eye doctor about LASIK, as well as other vision correction options. It can be hard to disrupt your schedule with an appointment to see your eye doctor. But, annual eye exams are especially important if you are one of the millions of people who require vision correction. Taking the time to schedule – and keep – your annual eye exam appointment is the best way to keep your eyes and vision healthy. It’s also an opportunity to talk with your eye doctor about which vision correction options may be good for you. Instead of simply getting an updated prescription or trying out a new type of contact lenses, consider having a more thoughtful conversation with your eye doctor about your vision lifestyle, your vision correction needs, and your current options.
To help you make the most out of your appointment, here are a few topics you can bring up with your eye doctor.
Describe any lifestyle compromises you are making with your current vision correction
For example, does your eye doctor know if your glasses get in the way of fulfilling your responsibilities, your job, or lifestyle activities you may enjoy? Have you talked about your frustrations with the limitations eyeglasses put on your lifestyle? Importantly, if you wear contact lenses, bring up any symptoms or challenges you have experienced with them since your last eye exam. You really want your eye doctor to understand how your vision, and your vision correction, plays into your daily life.
If you wear contact lenses, are you disciplined about your contact lens wear and hygiene?
Let your eye doctor know if there have been changes to your life, lifestyle, or schedule that make it more difficult for you to adequately care for your contacts. One common scenario is young adults heading off to college who may not be disciplined about the care and cleaning of their contacts without their parents’ supervision. Or, another scenario may be new parents who find themselves too busy caring for their babies to be mindful of how long they are wearing their contacts each day. You want to be sure your eyes are safe and stay healthy. Keeping your doctor informed about changes in your lifestyle beyond your vision can help make the conversation about your vision correction needs more productive.
Are you getting what you need or want from your vision?
Your eye doctor is your partner in both your eye health and achieving your best vision. But, the reality is, your doctor doesn’t know what you don’t tell him or her. You can help by being upfront and vocal about your lifestyle experiences and vision correction needs to support the life you want.
It also helps to know that getting what you want from your vision is a top priority for your eye doctor. If you are working with an eye care doctor you have a good relationship with, you shouldn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable bringing up your frustrations with your glasses or contacts. Understanding your personal experience with vision correction, both for yourself and for your eye care doctor, is an important first step in making sure you have the best vision possible. So, if you are interested in moving beyond glasses and contacts for vision correction, trust your eye doctor and start the conversation about LASIK or other laser vision correction options.
Taking time during your annual eye exams to discuss your current vision correction options with your eye doctor helps ensure you have the best vision possible. Talking with your eye doctor and learning if a laser vision correction procedure such as LASIK is recommended for you and your vision can be an important part of that annual exam.
Importantly, after having LASIK or any other type of vision correction procedure including PRK, SMILE, and ICL, you still need annual eye care visits throughout your life regardless of your choice of vision correction.
