A routine visit to an optometrist can help you avoid the pain, stress, and cost of untreated eye defects, while also helping you pick up on any signs of possible ailment in other parts of your body. However, there are a few things that you shouldn’t do before an eye exam. Doing these things can affect the results and prescriptions of your eye exam, which could result in a misdiagnosis. So, what should you not do before an eye exam?

  • Drinking coffee and soda

If you are a routine coffee drinker, or you rely on soda to get through your work long hours, you should avoid all forms of caffeine for at least a few hours before your eye exam. The effect of coffee and other caffeinated drinks on your blood pressure can affect the appearance of your eyes. You won’t have any actual problems during your eye exam if you drink coffee before your appointment, but it is best to avoid it so that the optometrist can get an accurate reading and possible diagnosis of your eyes. 

  • Stressing your eyes 

It goes without saying that stress is one of the leading causes of eye defects so, the last thing you should do before an eye exam is stressing your eyes. If you spend a lot of time in front of your phone, computer, or TV screen, you may want to take a break for a few hours before your eye exam. Stressing your eyes may put more pressure on the eyes and worsen the outcome of your eye exam. 

  • Exposing your eyes to harsh weather elements

If your route to the optometrist’s office is very sunny, windy, or dusty, you may want to get some protective covering for your eyes like sunglasses or a face cap. Exposing your eyes to intense weather conditions before an eye exam may cause them to present symptoms for a non-existent problem.

  • Dismissing any eye problems 

Whenever you feel any discomfort in your eyes, don’t be so quick to dismiss it as nothing or try to tend to the problem on your own. If you don’t bring it up with your optometrist, a small problem can become something way bigger. So, take note of every itch, pain, and sore before going for an eye exam. 

  • Forgetting your insurance details 

Lastly and most importantly, never forget your insurance card and valid I.D. cards. If you don’t have your insurance card readily available, the appointment can drag on for longer than necessary because of the checks and validations that have to be done first before you can receive medical care. 

 

If you don’t do any of these things, your eye exam won’t be a bothersome appointment. Always remember that if you feel any discomfort or pain in your eyes, you should visit an optometrist for immediate professional care. 

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