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Comprehensive Eye Exam

If you’ve had a vision screening recently, you might say, “My vision is fine! I don’t need a comprehensive eye exam.”

But a vision screening provides a limited perspective on the overall health of your eyes. It’s a bit like getting your blood pressure checked and not getting the rest of your annual physical. You’ll have useful information, but it’s not the whole picture.
 

Digital refraction with a phoropter.

This is typically the main reason patients come for a yearly check up as this test is used to determine the eyeglasses prescription.  All of our exam lanes are equipped with the most advanced technology and we will never make you feel like you’re being rushed.
 

Autorefractor and Keratometer

An autorefractor is a quick test that gives an estimate of the eyeglass prescription.  It is helpful as a starting point that will then be fine tuned. A keratometer measures the curvatures of the cornea.  This is helpful in detecting various corneal diseases as well as determining which contact lens would fit the patient the best and improve overall comfortability.


Slit-lamp exam

A slit lamp is a binocular microscope (or biomicroscope) used to examine the structures of the eye under high magnification, including eyelids, cornea, conjunctiva, iris, and lens. With the help of a hand-held lens, the doctor may also use the slit lamp to examine structures located farther back in the eye, such as the retina and optic nerve.

The slit lamp exam can be used to detect a wide range of eye conditions and diseases, including cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal ulcers, and diabetic retinopathy, etc.
 

The Glaucoma Test

Similar to blood pressure, ocular pressure is most often asymptomatic.  Most people remember (and fear) the dreadful puff of air to check intraocular pressure.  We will NEVER use that outdated test.  Our top of the line tonometer is completely painless so NO AIR PUFF!


Visual Field Test

This test checks for the possible presence of blind spots (scotomas) in the peripheral (side) vision by performing a visual field test. These blind spots can originate from eye diseases like glaucoma or may help identify specific areas of brain damage caused by a stroke or tumor.
 

Dilation versus Optomap

Dilation involves putting eyedrops in to enlarge the pupil so we can check the health of the retina in the back of the eye.  Typically, most patients can drive home and side effect of light sensitivity and mild blurred vision last anywhere from 3-6 hours


Optomap is encouraged on all patients and provides an ultrawide field photograph of the retina WITHOUT DILATION. As an added bonus, we get to monitor any changes in appearance and compare year after year.

 

What are the Benefits of a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Comprehensive eye exams evaluate all aspects of your vision and eye health.
The comprehensive eye exam looks at your eye externally and internally for any signs of eye disease, then tests your vision in a variety of ways.

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  • External Exam – This is an evaluation of the whites of your eyes, the iris, pupil, eyelids, and eyelashes.

  • Internal Exam – This is an evaluation of the retina and optic nerve while your eyes are dilated.

  • Visual Function and Eye Health – This includes testing depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, and the response of the pupils to light, as well as an evaluation of eye focusing, eye teaming, and eye movement abilities.

  • Glaucoma Testing – This is a test of fluid pressure within your eyes to check for the possibility of glaucoma.

  • Visual Acuity – Your doctor will test your vision with different lenses to determine if glasses or contact lenses can improve your vision.
     

Comprehensive eye exams look at your total health history.
Even though you visit a separate office for your eye health, that doesn’t mean your eyes shouldn’t be treated holistically. Your eye doctor will discuss your overall health and that of your immediate family, any medications you’re taking, and whether you have high blood pressure or diabetes. They’ll also want to know if you smoke and how much sun exposure you get. All these factors help the eye doctor properly assess your eye health.

The American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam every two years if you aren’t having any problems and you’re aged 18-60. After the age of 61, you should schedule a comprehensive exam annually or as recommended by your eye doctor.

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