I recently had an eye exam and needed an updated prescription. I realized that because I hadn't (a) broken my eyeglasses or (b) changed my contact lens prescription, it had been more than five years since my last eye exam.
When I think about this, it's crazy. I would never go five years without a pap smear, or five years without a dental exam. I am very much a believer of the philosophy that the more information, the better; and that wellness care helps prevents illnesses and disease down the line. Yet here I was, wearing old glasses and using an old prescription and not being at all concerned about the amount of time passing.
When I think of how valuable my eyes are, I would have to say they are even more valuable than my teeth, for instance. Teeth can be replaced; eyes really cannot. And yet I cared for my teeth on a much more regular basis.
How long has it been since you had an eye exam?
If you're like me, you might have moved since your last exam, and it feels difficult to find a new eye doctor. Plus, you wonder if you can trust those places in the mall where the eye doctor is right next door to the eyeglass place.
Well, that's where I went, and I have to say that I had a young eye doctor who did an extremely thorough exam; the cost was fairly low; and the prescription is much better than my old one. And the glasses I got next door have updated frames that I like.
In retrospect, it seems silly. It was just something on the to-do list that I hadn't gotten around to because it wasn't an emergency. But I'm going to make a big effort to not have it happen again. Our eyes are too important to ignore them for as long as I did.