En Español (Spanish Version)
by Scholten A
Screening for Macular Degeneration
The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the US Preventive Services Task Force recommend the following preventive screening for macular degeneration:
Snellen Acuity Testing
—Visual acuity is measured with a Snellen chart, which displays letters, numbers, or objects of progressively smaller size. Normal vision is 20/20. Vision that is 20/40 allows you to pass a driver’s license test in all 50 states. If your vision is 20/80, you will be able to read an alarm clock that is 10 feet away. If your vision is 20/200, you are considered legally blind. Legally blind does not mean that you cannot see anything. It only implies that your vision is limited.
Screening Guidelines
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends comprehensive eye examinations every one to two years for people over age 65 who do not have eye conditions requiring treatment or any risk factors for eye problems.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests the following guidelines for when to have a regular eye exam for people without any medical or visual problems:
Screening for eye disease by trained personnel (eye doctor, pediatrician, or trained screener
):
- Newborn to 3 months
- 6 months to 1 year
- 3 years (approximately)
- 5 years (approximately)
Comprehensive medical eye exam by an eye doctor:
- Once between age 20-39
- Age 40-64—every two to four years
- Age 65 and older—every one to two years
Some factors may put you at increased risk for eye disease. If any of these factors applies to you, ask your doctor to see how often you should have a medical eye exam:
- Developmental delay
- Premature birth
- Personal or family history of eye disease
-
African-American or Hispanic heritage (due to an increased risk for
glaucoma
)
- Previous serious eye injury
- Use of certain medications
-
Certain diseases that affect the whole body (such as
diabetes
,
high blood pressure
, or
HIV infection
)
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recently published guidelines that recommends that everyone get a comprehensive eye examination at age 40.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians
website. Available at:
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html
.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
website. Available at:
http://www.aao.org/
.
Eye Smart website. Available at:
http://www.geteyesmart.org/
.