When most people hear the terms ‘eye exam’ and ‘vision screening’, they automatically assume that they are one and the same thing. This is an easily understandable mistake, since the two terms do seem to refer to the same type of activity. There is a distinct difference, however, and vision screening is certainly no substitute for a proper eye examination. Some people make a decision based on the difference between the eye exam price and the vision screening price, and since vision screening is often free of charge at any large optical store, many people simply neglect to find out more about eye examinations. Vision screenings are simply limited tests of your eyes that check for the most basic problems. Most often, this is a check for myopia, otherwise known as short-sightedness. This is the reason many optical stores offer vision screenings for free, since any deterioration in your eyesight due to short-sightedness will usually result in you purchasing eyeglasses or contact lenses from that store. Students in school will usually undergo vision screening tests as well, and these are slightly more comprehensive than those offered at optical stores. These tests are usually administered by the school nurse, however, who is most likely not extensively trained in the area of eye care. As the name suggests, a vision screening test is meant to identify potential problems, and if one is detected, then you will have to go for a more comprehensive diagnostic test to find out what the problem is, if there is one. An eye examination, on the other hand, is a full and comprehensive diagnostic test in its own right, and will not only detect problems but also serve to identify them for you. This is why eye examinations are administered by eye doctors or optometrists who have received extensive training in the field of vision healthcare. Family physicians and pediatricians who do not have qualifications as optometrists or ophthalmologists are not qualified to administer eye examinations. This is because certain conditions and diseases of the eye can cause extremely subtle symptoms, and unqualified physicians can easily miss these symptoms or misdiagnose the condition. Moreover, it is simply more convenient to have an eye examination administered by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Upon detection of a possible condition or disease that needs to be treated, your optometrist or ophthalmologist will recommend a treatment plan for you and also prescribe any medications that you might need. If a family physician were to detect the problem, however, they would then have to refer you to an optometrist or ophthalmologist anyway, since they are not qualified to treat any but the simplest problems of the eye. Having a regular eye exam is extremely important in order to preserve your vision and keep your eyesight in the best condition possible. You should not be deterred by the eye exam price, and simply keep in mind that failure to diagnose a problem with your eyes could lead to your vision becoming permanently impaired and even blindness. There are a number websites that allow you to compare the prices of eye examinations across various vision centers and clinics throughout the United States, and this will help you minimize the cost of an eye examination. Resource Box: If it is the Eye exam price that is stopping you from having your eyes thoroughly checked, then you need not put off your Eye Exam any longer! EyeDrPrices is dedicated to helping you find a place to have your eyes examined at the lowest possible price.
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