Eye Exam

My sister works in an opthamologists office as an Opthamic tech. Say that ten times fast! While I was in Michigan she asked me ever so sweetly (told me I was going and then made the appointment) to please come see one of the doctors so that I could have a base line eye exam.

Now that I have been diagnosed with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is a very real problem. Diabetics that don't take care of themselves as they should or don't visit with doctors can lose their eyesight. Since I hadn't seen an eye doctor since I was 15 or 16 years old, she figured I needed to have a base line for all future eye exams to be compared to - since the 1981 exam was probably no where to be found.

So I got my eyes examined by an Opthalmic tech (not my sister.) I read the charts, covered my left eye. Covered my right eye. Looked at pieces of paper with squares on them. So far so good.


Then I got my eyes dialated. There's a sensation you don't want to have happen too often. You can see far away but nothing close up. For those folks who don't have or need reading glasses it is just annoying! I couldn't read my phone, a magazine, the note on the door, nothing. If it was far away, not a problem.

My sister told me that she is asked all the time from people to call their son, husband, friend on the phone because they can't see to dial.

I then saw a Dr. who did other tests - Upper right, upper left, far left, lower left, etc. I was supposed to look in those directions as he called them out. Only once did he have to say "Your other right." I told him that this was not only a test of eyesight but also for direction! My sister was in the room for this exam and I heard her giggle when the Dr. said "Other right."

My eyesight is 20/20 and I have no signs of Diabetic Retinopathy. The suggested time is one year between visits when there is no sign of retinopathy.

My husband is having a lot of difficulty reading without glasses and I have been encouraging him to go see someone. He needs more than just reading glasses. He also needs to have his eyes checked to see if the medication he's taking is affecting his eye health.

So, in this time of giving and goodwill of joy and laughter. Do something for yourself. Call up your local Othamologist or Optician and get an eye exam. Your eyes are so important. Even if you schedule the appointment for next year! Just put that on your list of things to do for you.

By the way - the model in these pictures is my sister. I totally took them from her Facebook profile pictures! (Name that movie - "eye exam! eye exam!")

Have a fabulous day!
Kristin