Vision Screening Clinic in Carrboro, NC

The term 20/20 vision is commonly referred to as “normal” or perfect eyesight, meaning that the individual does not have hyperopia, which is farsightedness, or myopia, which is nearsightedness. 20/20 vision is a ratio that indicates an individual can see an object 20 feet away that people can normally see at that same distance. As such, if you have a visual acuity of 20/40, it means that you need to be 20 feet away from an object that most people can see at 40 feet away from the object.
On your prescription, when you see a plus value beside the sphere number, it indicates that you can see an object better when you look at it from further than 20 feet away than people can normally see at 20 feet away. Similarly, if there is a minus value, you need to be closer than 20 feet away to the object that most people can see 20 feet away.

Vision screenings not only help to determine how sharp your visual acuity is, but they also are essential for identifying and preventing vision problems and eye disorders. Most common eye disorders found in children, such as amblyopia (i.e., lazy eye) or strabismus (i.e., crossed eyes), are easily treated when found early. As such, vision screenings play a crucial role in correcting eye disorders at an early age. Vision screenings can also detect cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachments. Of course, they also help your optometrist provide an accurate reading of your visual acuity so that you can get the proper contact lenses or glasses to correct your vision to 20/20!

If you have children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that they have vision screenings directly after they are born, at six months of age, when they turn one year old, and annually after their first birthday. You might also want to bring in your child for a vision screening if they display any of the following eye disorder symptoms:

● Closing or covering one eye
● Complaints about objects being blurry
● Difficulty reading or doing close-up work
● Droopy eyelids
● Excessive blinking
● Frequent squinting
● Misaligned eyes
● Redness in one or both eyes
● Sensitivity to light
● Watery eyes

For adults, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that healthy adults have a vision screening once in their 20s, twice in their 30s, and to have a comprehensive baseline exam at age 40, which will help determine the frequency of screenings you should have after the age of 40. Once you reach the age of 65, the AAO recommends that you have a comprehensive eye exam once every year or two. Also, if you have any of the following symptoms at any age, you should strongly consider making a vision screening appointment:

● Circles (halos) around lights
● Decreased vision
● Double vision
● Eye discharge
● Eye pain
● Flashes of light
● Floaters, or specks that appear to float in front of your eyes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should also have yearly dilated eye exams if you have diabetes. If you are looking for a top-rated health clinic that offers eye exams in Carrboro, NC, we welcome you to come to Carrboro Family Medicine Center! To consult our professionals, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 610 Jones Ferry Rd Suite 102, Carrboro, NC 27510. We serve patients in Chapel Hill NC, Southern Village NC, Fearrington NC, Blands NC, and surrounding areas.