Philip Walsh - Do I need an eye exam before buying glasses?

Do I need an eye exam before buying glasses?
If you notice your vision changing and would like to look into glasses as a corrective solution, it's important to see your Specsavers optometrist first so you can get the correct prescription for your eyes.

Without the right lenses you may experience a range of symptoms. Firstly, your vision will not have improved and you may still see images as blurred, fuzzy, indistinct or hard to distinguish. This is not only frustrating to deal with, but it can also be dangerous during situations such as driving.

The wrong prescription could also give you headaches due to the increased eye strain, dizziness, nausea and vertigo. That's why it's critical to ensure you're getting the right prescription for your eyes before you commit to purchasing a pair of glasses.

An eye exam is an important health check that is essential for keeping your eyes in the best condition possible. A qualified Specsavers optometrist will use a variety of equipment, machines, coloured lights and charts to test the strength of your vision and condition of your eyes. He or she may also ask you questions about your lifestyle to determine the type of glasses that would be most suitable for your needs.

Once the eye exam is completed, your optometrist will write out your prescription and offer recommendations as to what types of lenses and frames would be best for you. Correcting a vision problem needs precise and carefully considered solutions, so it's essential to get your eye exam before you buy your glasses.

Specsavers offers Digital Retinal Photography with every standard eye test for free. Digital Retinal Photography is a powerful tool that allows optometrists to screen for abnormalities, assisting with the early detection of diseases including diabetes, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

It is recommended that you have your eyes tested once every two years and having an eye exam is beneficial to rule out the existence of more serious problems that could require correction in the future. If you have already had an eye exam within the past two years and you don't feel that your vision has changed, you can still use this prescription to purchase a new pair of glasses.

Visit www.specsavers.co.nz for more information or to book an appointment with your local optometrist.