Vision
Screening
No one test can replace a complete eye exam by an eye doctor,
but in just a few minutes one vision screening test can help
maintain the health of the only two eyes you have.
We took a test run of the contrast sensitivity test you'll
be seeing at CVS Pharmacy by having some willing employees
at Providence Hospital give it a glance. All you do is cover
up one eye at a time and mark down in circles which way you
think that some lines are slanted. It measures how well you
can see at home, play or at work. It also measures the ability
to see different sizes of objects and shades of gray.
If
you get more than two answers wrong on each eye, you fail.
That is not uncommon according to ophthalmologist Dr. Patrick
Villani of St. John Hospital.
"Something as high as 40 to 50 percent of the people have
failed. What they found was macular degeneration, glaucoma,
refractive error," said Dr. Villani.
Mary
Legette, a Human Resources Specialist at Providence took the
test and missed one answer on her right eye.
"Actually,
I should be wearing glasses. I do have glasses that I don't
wear as I should," Mary said.
Colleen
Kretzschmar also took the test and was surprised but pleased
that it was so quick and easy, taking no more than five minutes.
"If it were anymore difficult people would be intimidated
by it," Colleen said.
Once you get your results, your doctor can better understand
your visual function in the real world and use it as an aid
to detect early vision loss and eye disease.
Dr.
Anthony Poretta of Providence Hospital says that he applauds
the idea.
"I think anything...early is wonderful," Dr. Poretta said.
The tests are free at any CVs Pharmacy.
