Commonly Asked Questions

We hope everyone is at home staying safe and healthy. If you are interested in learning more about your eyes, we hope the Weber Vision Care blog finds you well.

In the exam room, patients ask many interesting questions (most relevant to eyes, but certainly not all of them!) Maybe you have wondered the answer to some of these too. Here are some commonly asked questions and our responses.

Q: Will wearing glasses make my vision worse? Will I become dependent on them?

A: We hear this question ALL the time. The good news is that you will not hurt your eyes or make your vision worse if you are wearing the correct prescription. Wearing an incorrect prescription can cause eye strain, headaches, and blurred vision, of course.

Some new glasses-wearers say their vision seems worse when they take off the glasses, and it wasn’t that bad beforehand. The vision did not get worse in that amount of time. Rather, the person is able to compare crisp 20/20 vision with glasses to the blurry vision without the glasses. Now you can appreciate clear vision and your brain greatly prefers this clarity over the previous blurriness, which was the “normal” at the time. Don’t be afraid to wear those glasses!  

Q: When should my child have their first eye exam?

A: According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), a child’s first eye exam is recommended between 6 to 12 months of age. If there is a low risk of developing eye or vision problems, the child should be seen again at least once between 3 to 5 years of age, before first grade, and annually thereafter. If the child is at a high risk for developing eye or vision problems, the eye doctor will determine the appropriate follow-up time based on the situation. A vision screening at school or the pediatrician’s office is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam. Read our blog, Why Vision Screenings Are Not Enough, to learn more!

Q: When will you do the “puff of air” test?

A: Fortunately for you, and all the other traumatized patients, the “puff of air” test has not been used at Weber Vision Care for well over 10 years. NCT, or non-contact tonometry, uses a burst of air to measure eye pressure. Rather than using NCT, we currently measure eye pressure using iCare® (a handheld device) and Goldmann tonometry. Sometimes it is necessary to check the pressure using a combination of two methods. It is a recordable value that can be compared from one visit to the next. Therefore, it is measured at every routine exam to determine if there is an increased risk for glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Q: I was told many years ago that I can’t wear contacts because I have astigmatism. Is that still true?

A: Contrary to the contacts available in the past, there are soft contact lenses for people with astigmatism. “Toric” contact lenses correct astigmatism and are commonly utilized in the eye care industry. While they may take several minutes to settle into position on the eye, the majority of people have great success with wearing contacts. There are some forms of astigmatism that require a specialty rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lens. Regardless of astigmatism, if you are interested in contacts, let us know so we can discuss your options!

Q: Do I have to be dilated this year?

A: People with risk factors for retinal problems, especially diabetes, should be dilated at least once a year. If it is your first eye exam or you are a new patient to our office, we will also dilate your pupils at the visit. Individuals who are young and healthy with no risk factors for ocular disease can be dilated every other year unless there is a cause to dilate sooner. A dilated exam is the only possible way to view the entire retina, which makes it an essential aspect of a comprehensive eye exam.

Did this Q&A spark a new question from you? If so, write it down and be sure to ask us at your next comprehensive eye exam. Until then, stay safe and healthy!