If it's been a while since your last eye exam, you should make an appointment to have an exam soon. Even if you aren't having obvious issues with your vision, an eye exam can catch problems early on. Early detection can be important for many reasons. It can help you have advance warning of things that may happen in the future. In some cases, it can afford you the opportunity to start treatment early. Catching certain problems early on can also allow you to opt for lesser invasive types of treatments, and can help the treatments be more successful, in some cases. This article will go over things like how an eye exam can detect glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems. It can also give you other additional information to help you learn the importance of early detection. 

Things that are done during an eye exam

When you go in for an eye exam, the optometrist will check your vision. If there are changes in your vision, then they may give you prescription lenses and/or contact lenses. In addition to checking your vision, they will also check for things like focusing issues, glaucoma, cataracts, retina damage, and other problems. 

Why you want to catch glaucoma as early as possible

Glaucoma can come in different types. With one of the most common types of glaucoma, there aren't any initial symptoms. This allows the pressure to build up gradually. So, if you aren't proactive with your eye exams, then there can be a lot of damage to your optic nerve by the time you learn there's an issue. At this point, you may be left with a lot of vision loss. However, since you will be checked for glaucoma during a routine eye exam, going in regularly can help you learn you have glaucoma early on when it's most treatable. 

Why you want to catch cataracts as early as possible

A cataract will partially block out the light that comes into your eye due to the clouding that happens to the lens. When this light gets blocked out, it alters the quality of the image you see when looking at something. You can become blind if you don't have your cataracts treated soon enough. Regular eye exams can help you to catch your cataract in time, so you would be a good candidate for cataract surgery. When the optometrist gives you an exam and determines you have a cataract, they will help you decide the best course of action to take. This can include choosing the best time for you to have cataract surgery, so it is as successful as possible.  

For more information, contact a local optometrist.