Eye Exams are Important!

I am sharing my story publicly because I want to bring awareness to this silent killer. If you are like me, you never even heard of ocular melanoma before. 

My tumor was first detected as part of a routine eye exam, at Visionworks in Bel Mar, where I have gone for a few years.  Dr. Katie Sider used a non-dilating camera system called Optomap. The ultra-wide digital retinal imaging system captures more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image. This image enhances your eye doctor's ability to detect even the earliest sign of disease that appears on your retina. She compared the image with one I had taken two years ago, and immediately referred me to a retina specialist.

I urge every person of every age to get an annual eye exam with dilation and/or Optomap from an ophthalmologist or optometrist to see deep inside the eye. Even if you don't need glasses, you need a thorough eye exam by an ophthamologist. Make an annual eye exam a regular habit, just like a dental visit, a mammogram, or a physical. It could save your life.