FENTON, Mo., May 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- May is Healthy Vision Month, making it a great time to consider the importance of eye exams for people of all ages. A yearly eye exam does more than identify whether vision correction is necessary for the first time or if a patient requires an updated prescription for glasses or contacts. Fenton Family Eyecare is reminding patients that eye exams also serve as an early warning system for health problems that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Comprehensive eye exams assess for more than the degree of corrective lenses necessary to reach 20/20 vision. These exams also identify whether serious problems are developing, such as glaucoma, hypertension, or macular degeneration. An example is that detecting damage to blood vessels in the retinas may signal the onset of diabetes.

"In addition to flagging changes in vision, a comprehensive eye exam shows whether you need treatment for weak eye muscles, cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. These conditions can seriously impair vision and health if left untreated," says optometrist Dr. Vito Vricella, O.D., owner of Fenton Family Eyecare.

Cataracts grow on the clear cornea of the eye. They usually are translucent at first, but eventually cloud vision and require surgical removal. Glaucoma and macular degeneration are irreversible but can be minimized or slowed with treatment. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and can lead to blindness. Macular degeneration disrupts the central vision needed for reading and looking straight ahead.

"Annual eye exams should begin when children are very young and then continue each year,” Dr. Vricella says.

Children think that everyone sees the world as they do, Dr. Vricella adds. They may think the whiteboard at the front of the classroom is blurry for everyone, or that it is standard to become tired while reading. Sometimes, an eye exam may identify the source of a child's learning trouble or provide the first indication of overall health difficulties.  

"Early correction of near or far vision brings the world into sharp focus and makes for happier experiences in the classroom and on the playing field," Dr. Vricella says.

Vision correction in early childhood can also help children deal with tiring conditions such as amblyopia, which is also called lazy eye. Amblyopia often is caused by muscle problems that make eyes cross or turn away from each other.

In addition to encouraging people to get eye exams, Healthy Vision Month emphasizes how eating healthy, avoiding smoking, wearing sunglasses, and using protective eyewear may all protect the gift of sight.

About Fenton Family Eyecare

Fenton Family Eyecare is a full-service optometry clinic providing services ranging from eye exams to pre- and post-care following LASIK eye surgery. Contact Fenton by calling (636) 305-9600 or by visiting their website at http://fentonfamilyeyecare.com/.

Fenton Family Eyecare 
1391 Smizer Mill Road #102
Fenton, MO 63026
(636) 305-9600