Early eye tests vital for 20/20 vision

EARLY MEDICAL examination may be the key to successfully developing 20/20 vision, but this examination must be conducted before the age of seven when the eyes stop maturing. However, not everyone develops 20/20 vision by that time. Once that time frame has elapsed and the eye’s fullest potential has not been established, nothing can be done later in life to rectify the problem. According to an eye care specialist at the Trinidad and Tobago Optometrists Association’s Christmas Conference at the Kapok Hotel yesterday, if an examination is done before the child reaches age seven and limitations to achieving 20/20 vision are detected, they can be successfully treated.

She added that if a child fully develops 20/20 vision, but later suffers shortsightedness, that individual can be successfully treated. This sometimes means wearing glasses for a short time. Touching on Glaucoma, the specialist explained that early detection is a sure way to manage the disease and prevent it from developing into something more dangerous, which may require surgery to repair. She said persons who are diabetic and who are suffering from glaucoma, should visit an ophthalmologist to have their pupils dilated to determine the full extent of their injury. With regard to cataracts, she said while the onset of the disease cannot be prevented, early detection can be vital for successful treatment, as well as detecting other diseases that may have also developed.

She said no one should take for granted that their inability to see is caused by a cataract. She said that while this can be so, an examination is the only way to determine whether there are other collaborative diseases such as glaucoma involved. She also advised that adults 35 years and older should have their eyes examined at least once a year to detect and treat any problems that may exist or are developing. She said there are people silently suffering from eye diseases or infections and they don’t realise it, because many of these diseases do not carry any symptoms. According to the specialist, only when problems arise do people seek medical advice and assistance. In some cases, that delay allows the problem to escalate into something bigger which may require surgery.