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What is the importance of an eye exam?
Although correcting your vision is very important, a comprehensive eye exam does more than that. The exam also allows the eye doctor to evaluate the eye health to detect cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration, some of which have no obvious symptoms until irreversible damage is done. Early diagnosis and treatment of these problems make big differences in the prognosis of the conditions. Not only are eye exams important for eye health, but also for general health. Comprehensive eye exams may also reveal serious health problems such as high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes before the symptoms show up elsewhere in the body. Early detection of these diseases means proper treatments and better prognois.
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How often do I need my eyes examined?
Yearly eye exams are recommended for most people, but more frequent exams are recommended for people who have history of eye or systemic disease.
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What does a comprehensive eye exam include?
Your individual concerns and symptoms, along with the professional judgment of the doctor, may significantly influence the tests. A comprehensive eye examination may include the following tests.
Patient History: to determine any symptoms you are experiencing, personal and family medical/ocular history and medications taken.
Visual Acuity: to determine how clearly each eye is seeing.
Colour vision: to determine the ability to distinguish colour.
Binocular vision: to evaluate eye coordination or the ability to judge distance and depth.
Oculomotor testing: to evaluate eye alignment and eye muscle movement.
Pupil testing: to evaluate neurological integrity.
Refraction: to determine the appropriate lens power needed to correct vision: nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Tonometry: to measure eye pressure to check for glaucoma.
Eye Health Evaluation: to check for diseases of the eyes externally with a microscope and internally with pupil dilation.
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What is the difference between a sight test and a comprehensive eye exam?
A sight test, more accurately described as a type of refraction, determines a lens power by relying on a combination of computerized tests using automated equipment.
A comprehensive eye exam performed by an doctor of optometry looks at the entire eye and vision system and is an important part of preventative health care. Think of it as a physical exam for your eyes. Eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts or retinal degeneration, and other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and some brain tumors can be detected in an eye exam before symptoms appear. But NOT in sight testing.
Doctors of optometry utilize their extensive training and experience, together with professional judgment, to direct the testing and interpret the results. Not only do we give you appropriate vision correction, but also a life-long of good eye health.
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Who should get an eye exam?
Everyone. As some eye diseases have no symptoms, routine eye exam plays an important role to ensure a lifetime of good eye health and sight.
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What is dilation? Do I need it?
When the doctor shines a light at your eyes, your pupils become smaller limiting how much the doctor can see at the back of your eyes. With the dilation, achieved by instilling eye drops, we can perform a thorough health evaluation. Dilation is recommended but not mandatory as the dilating eye drops make your vision more blurry and light sensitive. Everybody reacts to the eye drops differently, it may be anywhere between for 2 to 6 hours before your vision becomes normal. Sunglasses, especially prescription sunglasses, will be helpful.
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What if I need contact Lenses?
Upon completion of an comprehensive eye exam, our doctors will make sure that your eyes are healthy and dispense your a glasses prescription. If you require contact lenses, you will need a contact lens evaluation. If you are new to contact lenses, you also need a contact lens training.
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