Eye Examinations- Descriptions and FAQs.
A Thorough Eye Examination- the key to a lifetime of good vision

A thorough eye examination administered by our doctors typically includes all, or an appropriate combination of, the following components:

Case History
You will be asked for information about your vision and health history, medications, symptoms of vision problems and other background information.

Visual System Evaluation
Using a number of tests and medical instruments, your doctor will conduct an external and internal examination of the various parts of your vision system, including the retina, optic nerve, blood vessels, muscles, pupils, cornea, lens, iris, conjunctiva, eyelids and eyelashes. The doctor will assess the health of your eyes and look for the possibility of vision problems such as glaucoma, cataracts and corneal diseases, and general systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and neurological disorders.

Refractive Evaluation
Your doctor will conduct several tests to determine your ability to see clearly, focus your eyes, and whether you need prescription eyewear.

Binocular Evaluation
The doctor will conduct tests of what is known as your binocular function, which determines the ability of the eyes to work together at both near and far distances.

Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Your doctor will make a final diagnosis and determine the treatment plan for you. The diagnosis includes the status or your vision system and any systemic health problems. The doctor will determine any necessary treatments such as corrective eyewear or vision therapy and ensures the earliest possible intervention for eye and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Examinations
Our practice manager answers some frequently asked questions about eye examinations.

Why should I have my eyes examined regularly?
In addition to ensuring proper eyesight, regular eye examinations allow doctors to detect and treat diseases at the earliest possible opportunity. Some diseases do not have symptoms in their early stages. A good example is glaucoma — the most common cause of vision loss. Typically, glaucoma does not cause pain, and you don’t notice a change in your vision at first. By the time your vision is affected, we can only prevent it from getting worse.

If you have regular eye examinations, your doctor can more readily detect potential problems and prescribe proper treatments to prevent vision loss. Don’t determine the need for an eye examination on whether or not you are seeing relatively well. Even though you may be seeing well, undetected changes can occur from high blood pressure, diabetes, eye tumors, and retinal disorders. So, don’t just rely on changes in your vision. Remember, unlike the rest of your body, the eyes usually don’t really hurt when something is wrong.

What is an acceptable frequency for eye examinations?
As a rule, you should not go beyond two years to have your eyes examined, and the recommended care is an examination every year. Those with a family history of eye diseases, diabetic patients, and anyone whose general health is poor or who are taking medications that may have potential side effects on the eye may need to have their eyes examined twice a year. You and your doctor should determine the eye examination schedule that best meets your eyecare needs.

When should my child have his or her first eye examination?
Your child’s first eye examination should be done around age two and definitely before age three. This is the age when a child’s visual system undergoes its most rapid development, and vision correction is most effective. For example, if your child develops a "lazy eye" or amblyopia, which is a loss or lack of development of vision in one eye usually resulting from a failure of the visual system to use both eyes together such as in a case of crossed eyes. The "lazy" eye will not function as well as the other eye. The brain is incapable or refuses to acknowledge the image seen with the "lazy" eye, and the brain learns to ignore one image in favor of the other.

The eye that is ignored grows weaker from not being used since amblyopia occurs only in one eye. The good eye takes over, and the individual is generally unaware of the condition. Before the ages of two to three, the condition can be treated, and the brain will use that eye. After the ages of two to three, the neuro-connections are established, and the "lazy eye" is deep-seated. It can still be treated, but not as effectively. The earlier it is diagnosed, the greater the chance for complete recovery.

How frequently should children’s eyes be examined after their initial examination?
As with adults, children’s eyes should be examined every two years — or more frequently if there is a family history of eye disease. School children use their eyes more frequently than adults to read and perform other school activities, so it’s extremely critical for them to have regular eye examinations. Also, it is important to remember that an eye screening typically offered at school only tests distance. Screenings will not detect some vision problems.
Your child can have problems with near vision, eye coordination and focusing and still have 20/20 vision. If left untreated, these problems can cause learning disabilities, headaches and other visual discomforts.

Do I need a special eye examination as I get close to, or past, age 40?
You don’t need a special eye examination over age 40, but it’s critical that you have your regular eye examination at least every two years. As we get older, we are more susceptible to certain eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Getting your eyes regularly examined enables your eye doctor to detect the first signs of disease and prescribe the appropriate treatments to prevent vision loss.

How much will an examination cost?
Please click here to access a description and fee for some of the exams/procedures we perform.

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