Learn why annual eye exams at Five Points Eye Care are a must, even if your vision seems fine — and what we’re really looking for behind those big machines.
We get it. If your eyesight feels sharp and your eyes aren’t bothering you, an annual eye exam might not feel like a high priority. But here’s the thing: many serious eye conditions don’t come with early warning signs. At Five Points Eye Care in Athens, we catch problems before they impact your daily life, helping you preserve your vision and stay ahead of any changes.
Let’s break down what your yearly eye exam includes, who benefits most (spoiler: it’s everyone), and why that quick visit might be more important than you think.
What We Check During a Comprehensive Eye Exam
An annual eye exam isn’t just about whether you need new glasses or contacts. Though we’re happy to help with that too, it’s a full checkup for your eyes, designed to catch signs of diseases and other concerns that aren’t always obvious.
Here’s what our exams typically include:
Vision Testing
We test how clearly you see at various distances. This helps us update your glasses or contact lens prescription, but it also gives us clues about how your vision is changing over time.
Eye Movement & Coordination
We assess how well your eyes track together, which can impact reading, depth perception, and focus, especially for kids.
Refraction
This step fine-tunes your prescription using a series of lenses, letting us measure exactly how your eyes focus light.
Eye Pressure Measurement
This is a key test to screen for glaucoma, a condition that often develops without symptoms and can cause irreversible vision loss if not caught early.
Slit Lamp Exam
Using a specialized microscope, we get a close-up look at the front of your eye, including your cornea, iris, and lens, to check for signs of cataracts, dry eye, or corneal issues.
Retinal Imaging or Dilation
To examine the back of your eye, we may use digital retinal photography or dilate your pupils. This allows us to check your retina and optic nerve for signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, or even neurological issues.
Additional Specialty Testing
Depending on your health and symptoms, we may also run tests like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), corneal topography, or visual field exams to better understand what’s going on beneath the surface.
Eye Exams for Adults, Kids, and Everyone in Between
Your needs shift over time, and so does your vision. That’s why we tailor our exams to fit your age, lifestyle, and risk factors.
- Kids & Teens: Clear vision is essential for learning. We check for visual skills like eye teaming and tracking that can impact performance in school and sports.
- Adults (20s–50s): Annual exams help monitor prescription changes and catch the earliest signs of diseases like glaucoma or diabetes-related eye issues.
- Older Adults (60+): We pay close attention to age-related conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration, which often progress silently at first.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth, our team makes your comfort a priority. We take the time to explain each test and answer your questions, because we believe eye care should feel personal, not procedural.
Why an Eye Exam Could Catch More Than You Think
Most people think of the eye doctor only when something goes wrong. But the eyes can give early clues about issues that affect your overall health, not just your vision. During a comprehensive eye exam, we might spot signs of:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Autoimmune conditions
- Certain neurological disorders
These signs show up in the blood vessels or nerves at the back of the eye before symptoms develop elsewhere. That’s why your annual eye exam at Five Points Eye Care isn’t just about vision—it’s about your whole health.
We also check for dry eye, eye strain from digital screens, and symptoms of eye fatigue that can sneak up on you if you work on a computer all day. These may not seem urgent, but they can really impact how you feel day to day.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
To get the most out of your eye exam, we recommend coming prepared with:
- Any current glasses or contact lenses
- A list of medications and supplements
- Notes on any changes in your vision or eye comfort
- Family history of eye or systemic health conditions
- Contact information for your primary care provider
This information helps us understand what’s going on inside your eyes and how it connects to the rest of your health. The more we know, the better we can guide you.
Comprehensive Eye Exams in Athens, GA
At Five Points Eye Care, we’re proud to be a part of the Athens community and to care for patients of all ages. Whether you’re a college student adjusting to more screen time, a parent managing your child’s vision in the classroom, or someone looking to stay on top of age-related changes, we’re here to help.
We’ve invested in advanced diagnostic tools, but more importantly, we’ve built a team that believes care should be personal. You won’t feel rushed. You won’t feel like a number. You’ll leave your visit feeling informed and supported—because that’s the kind of care we’d want for our own families.
If it’s been more than a year since your last exam, or if something just feels a little off, book an appointment online. We’d love to see you.