You shouldn't neglect your well-being if you want to live the healthiest life possible, and your eye health is no exception. An eye doctor, which is commonly referred to as an optometrist, can help you look after your eye health by providing comprehensive services that are intended to promote better vision throughout each phase of your life.  

Perform Vision Tests

One of the first things that an eye doctor will want to do is check how well you see with a vision test. You'll be asked to read a series of numbers and letters that range in size on a vision chart. The vision strength of each eye will also be tested to determine if one eye sees better than the other. In addition to looking at a chart, the optometrist may have you look through different lenses and ask you to specify how clearly you're able to see through each lens.

Fit You for Eyeglasses or Contacts

If you need corrective lenses to see better, your eye doctor can fit you for eyeglasses, contact lenses, or both. Whether you have farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism, corrective lenses can be made to address different vision problems. If you choose to get glasses, the optometrist will write a prescription that specifies the strength of the lenses that you'll need to see clearer, and you can then choose the eyeglass frames that look and feel the best. For contacts, the eye care doctor will also specify the lens strength on a prescription form and take measurements of each eye to make sure that the contacts will fit correctly.

Diagnose and Treat Eye Conditions

An optometrist can perform tests and conduct more in-depth examinations to find out if you have any underlying eye conditions that could affect your vision. The eye doctor can also provide the primary care that's often needed to treat or slow the progression of certain conditions. Testing often involves measuring the pressure in each eye and dilation so that the optometrist can see deeper into the eyes. Some of the eye conditions that optometrists often diagnose and treat include: 

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts  
• Diabetic retinopathy 
• Age-related macular degeneration

No matter how old you are or how good you think your eye health is, you should see an eye doctor to ensure that your eyes are in the best state possible.

Contact an optometrist in your area to learn more about how they can help.