It's important to take certain precautions before an eye exam, such as avoiding alcohol and stimulants like coffee and cigarettes. Caffeine can increase blood pressure, which may be reflected in an eye exam. Therefore, it's best to wait 24 to 48 hours before drinking coffee, soda, or any energy drink. If you can't do without your morning cup of coffee, swap it for decaffeinated or half-caffeinated coffee.
Some studies have indicated that caffeine, an important component of coffee, causes an increase in intraocular pressure. Caffeine has been linked to an increase in the production of aqueous humor, a type of eye fluid. When the volume of eye fluid increases, so does the pressure inside the eyes. That's why some experts recommend that patients with glaucoma or at risk of developing this condition stop consuming caffeinated beverages.
To get the most benefit from your eye exam, consider avoiding coffee and other caffeinated products that day. Regular eye exams sometimes reveal health problems other than those directly related to the eye system, such as high blood pressure. If you have more questions about how to properly prepare for an eye exam, contact Gulf Coast Vision Center today. This is important because spending too much time in front of the screen sometimes causes digital eye fatigue, which can lead to eye fatigue and affect exam results.
Having an annual eye exam is one of the best things you can do for your eye health, as it helps detect problems in their early stages, when they are most likely to respond to treatment. If you're going to have an annual eye exam to check for changes in your vision, your vision insurance should be enough. When you have an eye exam, you may need to keep your eyes open so that the eye doctor can see them. Even if you don't need eyeglasses or contact lenses, you should have an eye exam at least every one to two years, especially if you're over 40 years old.
One of the most common mistakes patients make is thinking that they don't need to wear their current prescription glasses for eye exams. Drinking beer, liquor, or wine can increase blood pressure, which can occur during certain eye exams or physical exams. After your eye exam, protect your eyes in any season of the year with sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays. Another reason why you should remove your contact lenses before the exam is because it allows your eyes to adapt without them. Although many people think it's a nuisance, eye dilation is necessary for most patients, as it allows the eye doctor to more easily detect problems such as a retinal tear, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts.
In addition to eyeglasses, carry a pair of sunglasses with you, as your eyes are likely to widen during the exam.
