Medical eye exams check out the health of the eye and find any eye diseases. In addition, during an eye exam, a doctor may be able to predict and possibly prevent eye problems from occurring, based on symptoms and personal and family health history.
Many eye problems are treatable if caught early.
If you are between the ages of 20 and 65 and do not have a family history of an eye disease called glaucoma, you should see an optometrist for your eye exams. Depending on the state in which you live, an optometrist may or may not be licensed to prescribe medications. However, optometrists can not perform surgery. If the exam determines that correction is needed, glasses or contact lenses may be prescribed. You can obtain your glasses or contact lenses from an optometrist or an optician, who is a specialist trained to dispense eye glasses and sometimes contact lenses.