Annual Eye Exams
Screen, Prevent, Treat
Quick: Can you name any conditions of the eye? Often the first things that come to mind are nearsightedness (myopia), pink eye (conjunctivitis) and "lazy eye" (amblyopia, commonly found in children). Then there are the more serious conditions like cataracts, glaucoma and detachment of the retina . What do all of the above have in common? They range in how critical they are, but all are detectable during the course of an annual eye exam.
Did you know that everyone, starting around age 40 or even before, will experience age - related presbyopia (the need for reading glasses)? Repeated exposure of the eyes to sunlight also has many negative effects.
Short term: risk of photokeratitis (corneal inflammation, like a sunburn to the eye)
Longer term: Retinal damage, increased risk of cataracts, pterygium (a growth in the corner of the eyes) and pinguecula (a lesion on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye)
From a cosmetic perspective, we all know that over time, the very sensitive skin that surrounds your eyes will naturally get thinner, drier and start to wrinkle. However, ongoing exposure to the sun's powerful rays will accelerate this process – and can cause skin cancer.
An annual eye exam will detect the above, and your optometrist can provide treatment options where available. In some ca ses, the answer is simple: a pair of reading glasses with your correct prescription, or a pair of sunglasses with total UVA/UVB protection (polarized lenses are always a good choice) is all you need to protect your eyes from the sun. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Unfortunately, too many people self-diagnose and rationalize the need for a full eye exam merely because they can "still see OK." Refraction, or the test that determines your eyewear prescription, is only one part of the comprehensive eye examination. Proper eye health really requires you have your eyes examined every year.
However, due to employment changes and other life events, some people do not have vision benefits; or they have insurance, but it only covers an exam ever y other year. Enter the Metro Optics Vision Club, the ideal choice:
For those who don't have eyecare insurance
As a supplement for those with vision benefit s that only cover services every other year
The $99 annual Vision Club membership fee covers a yearly comprehensive eye exam at any Metro Optics location, plus a pair of glasses (single-vision or bifocal, with standard lenses) from the Vision Club selection.
If you're looking beyond the ba sic s, Vision Club memberships also en title you to discounts on frame and lens upgrades, as well as second pairs and contacts.
Metro's new e-commerce site, www.metroopticsonline.com, offers easy online sign-up for the Vision Club. Simply logon and complete the sign-up information under the Vision Club Plan sec tion. All major credit cards are accepted. If you're a business owner looking to add vision benefits to your overall employee insurance package, Metro can arrange group rates for your membership. Simply contact john@metrooptics.com for more details.
Metro Optics has three Bronx locations: in Parkchester at 1332 Metropolitan Ave., Hunt s Point at 1038 Southern Blvd. and Pelham Bay at 25 Westchester Square. A vast library of eye -health information is available online at www.metrooptics.com. Reach a live operator at 1-800-230-EYES.