Frequently Asked Chiropractic Questions in Grand Rapids MI

Routine annual eye exams are an important part of preventative health care. Digital retinal imaging and dilated eye exams reveal asymptomatic eye and systemic conditions that may negatively impact long term vision and health. Finding these conditions on examination allows for earlier interventions and improved patient outcomes.

I would prefer not to have this question on the website. It’s misleading, because blur is the most common symptom of needing a new prescription, but it’s also a symptom of eye and systemic diseases that cause irreversible vision loss. Patients should seek eye care any time they notice changes in their vision.

Contact lenses are class II and III medical devices that require strict regulation for optimal safety. Contact lens use without regulation and/or compliance to care is a public health concern. Optometry has worked diligently for decades to ensure that our regulations are in the best interest of the public. With the development of daily disposable lenses, infection risk has dropped dramatically.

Polycarbonate and Trivex lens materials will naturally absorb 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Plastics, such as CR-39 and High-Index, require a UV protective coating added to the material to block UV.

Dilated eye exams open the pupil so that the doctor is able to see more of the internal structures of the eye, including: the retina, natural lens, vitreous humour and other structures.

Foreign bodies can be extremely harmful to the ocular surface, especially if embedded into the cornea. Metal foreign bodies can degrade and rust, which can affect vision permanently, and biological foreign bodies (dirt, wood, dust, etc.) can cause serious infection. If at any time you have a foreign body in your eye, please contact your nearest eye care provider. If none are available, contact urgent care or an emergency department.

Children are advised to have their first eye exam prior to preschool to screen for vision disorders. Many vision disorders are not readily apparent, and require specific testing to reveal disorders. If disorders go untreated through childhood, it can hinder their visual performance through adulthood. Visual development has various “critical periods.” A visual critical period is a finite period of time where the neural connections within the visual cortex of the brain are of utmost importance.

Annual exams are the only way to prevent vision threatening disorders; namely, Amblyopia. Children should have annual exams, unless otherwise recommended by your eye care provider.