Baltimore Ophthalmologist Addresses the Importance of Routine Eye Exams

BALTIMORE, MD--(Marketwired - Apr 23, 2013) - Dr. Jay C. Grochmal, an ophthalmologist in Baltimore, advises his patients at Grochmal Eye Center to schedule a regular eye exam every one to three years, depending on the age and health of the individual. By doing so, he is able to check for a variety of visual and muscular problems that can easily go undetected and permanently damage sight.

The frequency of exams depends on the needs of each patient and any pre-existing medical conditions. He recommends patients over 40 get a complete eye exam every two years, which is especially important for those with cataracts or glaucoma. For patients with diabetes, he advises more frequent eye exams with at least one per year to monitor any changes.

According to Dr. Grochmal, eye exams can be made less frequently with younger patients, as they have a lower risk of developing severe eye problems. He points out they can get by with an appointment every three years. At approximately age six, Dr. Grochmal encourages parents to set up a baseline exam for their children. However, if there is a family history of eye muscle problems and signs are apparent in the child, an exam should be made around age three or earlier.

"The reason for regular exams goes well beyond 'good' vision," Dr Grochmal explains. He identifies these exams as preventative measures for his patients. Since many medical diseases have adverse signs within the eye, and inherent eye diseases can manifest silently, not showing many, if any symptoms early on, they can be progressing unchecked, causing needless damage. To detect problems early and prevent permanent damage, Dr. Grochmal performs a thorough inspection of his patients' eyes.

During these exams, Dr. Grochmal monitors any visual or muscular changes. Depending on the patient's unique case and whether they have undergone vision correction procedures such as LASIK or PRK, additional tests may be needed for effective disease prevention; but generally, patients can expect the following in a complete exam:

• Vision check with and without glasses
• Careful exam of the orbital area including eyelids
• Eye muscle balance evaluation
• Magnified exam of the eye interior from the cornea to the retina
• Measurement of intraocular pressure

With their personal touch and advanced technology, Dr. Grochmal says the physicians at Grochmal Eye Center are helping preserve and improve patient eye health one routine screening at a time. Overall, he stresses the importance of frequent eye exams with an experienced and qualified ophthalmologist.

About Jay C. Grochmal, MD

After graduating from the University of Maryland, Dr. Jay C. Grochmal interned at the U.S. Public Health Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Three years later, he was named Chief Resident at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center's Department of Ophthalmology before completing his residency. It was at this point when Dr. Grochmal opened his private practice in ophthalmology. In addition to his eye center, he is on the staff of top Baltimore hospitals, including the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and St. Agnes Hospital. He currently is the medical director at Snowden River Surgery Center (one of the busiest ambulatory centers for eye surgery in the state). Dr. Grochmal is available for interview upon request.