Eye issues are everyone’s business

Eyes are everyones business.png

By: Anika Goodwin, MD, FACS, EYEmergencyMD.com

You’re young, healthy, and invincible. Life is hectic. Who has time for an appointment with the eye doctor?

You visit your doctor if you’re sick and you get a physical about once a year, so you’re covered, right?

Wrong.

A physical examination and lab work can tell your doctor the status of your body, but not the status of your eyes.

To be such a small organ, the eyes are gloriously complex and responsible for the way you and your body interact with everything around you.

I can read your mind right now. “Yes, but only older people get eye problems.”   

Wrong again!

There are a number of eye conditions that can occur at any age. Trauma and pink eye are two of the most commonly known, however, there is quite a list of other eye conditions that impact younger people. 

How many of these are you familiar with?

  • Dry eye

  • Retinal holes or tears

  • Uveitis (inflammation inside the eye)

  • Color blindness

  • Amblyopia

  • Proptosis

  • Strabismus (crossed eyes)

  • Herpes simplex keratitis

  • Corneal ulcers

  • Retinitis pigmentosa

There are even people under the age of 40 who are legally or completely blind. The American Foundation for the Blind estimates that 35-40% of those who are blind or visually impaired are working age.

Loss of vision affects quality of life, your economic situation, your independence, and your mental health. The economic impact for those under 40 years of age is estimated to be $14.5 billion.

With the huge shift and focus on making health care more accessible and convenient, it seems only natural that care of an organ that performs such a vital function should offer no less.

That’s why The Doctor has partnered with EYEmergencyMD, a leading telemedicine company for eyes, to provide a convenient option to access high quality medical care right here at The Doctor, the place you love and with people you know and trust.

Starting in February, ask any of the friendly staff at The Doctor about having the following tests performed:

  • Visual acuity check

  • Intraocular pressure check

  • Examination of the front of the eye

  • Examination of the back of the eye

If needed, the team at The Doctor can even get you in front of a board certified eye physician when you have an acute eye problem. No more urgent care and long emergency room waits for you!

So, what are you waiting for? The next time you visit your primary care doctor, ask about getting your eyes examined that same day!

Life is much too full of awesome things to see, so start taking charge of your vision now.

We care, because vision matters. Go here to learn more about eye services The Doctor will offer starting in February.

Marc Vinson