A comprehensive eye exam will evaluate not only how well you see, but also identify potential eye diseases which are often silent
or asymptomatic. Routine eye examinations are an essential part of preventative health care. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye
and vision problems are important for maintaining not only good vision, but also overall health.
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During an exam, a series of tests designed to help evaluate
your vision and eye health are performed. Some of these
tests include:
Monocular Refraction. First we determine the correct
prescription for each eye individually, using a series of
lenses to find the
best prescription to optimize the clearest vision and visual
comfort.
Binocular Refraction. Once the prescription of each eye is
determined alone, we measure both eyes together to find the
right
balance between the two eyes. An imbalanced refraction can
cause headaches, eyestrain, and double vision.
EOM (extra-ocular muscle) Evaluation. The muscles that move
your eyes are controlled by nerves that travel through your
brain. Any
problems with eye movement may be due to deeper neural
problems or systemic disease. This test can sometimes find
even strokes and
brain tumors!
Pupil Reaction Check. A simple test of the way the pupil
behaves to light gives a lot of clues to the function of the
eye as a
whole, and may be used to discover glaucoma, retinal tears,
inflammation behind the eye, and even problems in the brain.
Tear film Evaluation. The tear film covering the surface of
the eye actually is a complex system. A basic evaluation of
the health
and integrity of this surface will help to diagnose corneal
conditions such as dry eye.
Eye Alignment Assessment. A slight tendency of the eyes
drift out of alignment can cause headaches, eyestrain,
double vision, or
difficulty reading or using the computer.
Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy. This allows a general assessment of
the outside structures of the eyes, and allows us to find
corneal
conditions such as keratoconus, eye injuries, mild
infections, or problems of the inner structures of the eyes,
like cataracts.
Dilated Retinal Exam or Optomap Retina Scan. Dilating the
pupil allows us to see much more of the retina; it opens up
a larger
window to see the inside of the eye. There are many
conditions of the retina, such as retina tears and
detachments, which can only
be seen through a dilated pupil. A newer technology, called
the Optomap, takes a scan of the retina, and lets us see the
inside of
the eye without dilating. The retinal exam is important to
detect and treat conditions such as macular degeneration,
diabetic
retinopathy, glaucoma, and retinal tears and detachments.
Dry eye/Allergy Screening. Many people suffer from chronic
dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) or allergic
conjunctivitis and
attribute the symptoms of blurry or fluctuating vision,
redness, blur, pain, itching, and tearing to other
conditions. These
problems are not always simple to treat, but therapies are
constantly improving, and we have methods available now for
treating
both.
Systemic Disease Consultation. Through different parts of
the exam, we are able to see if any systemic conditions that
you are
being treated for may be causing problems in the eyes, such
as dry eye or retinal damage. We will review your list of
medications
to determine if there are any ocular or visual side effects,
and treat those side effects, if necessary. We also may be
able to
uncover problems like diabetes and elevated cholesterol that
were not previously diagnosed. We will work with your
primary care
physician to properly manage the eye condition and the
systemic condition that it is linked to.
Glaucoma Screening. Glaucoma is a disease that has no
noticeable symptoms until later stages. It causes slow
vision loss beginning
from the outside in. By the time vision loss is noticed, it
is too late. Once vision is lost from glaucoma, it cannot be
restored.
Various screening tests are performed during a routine exam
to help detect early signs of glaucoma.
Visual Field Testing. Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) is
used to detect early visual field loss. This
glaucoma-screening
device is ideal because it conducts supra-threshold testing
in only 45 seconds per eye.
Intra Ocular Pressure. This is the classic sign of glaucoma:
high pressure inside the eye. New research has found that
this is no
longer the only way to detect glaucoma, and that glaucoma
may be present even with low eye pressure.
Optic Nerve Head Evaluation. The optic nerve is where the
eye connects to the brain. In an eye with glaucoma, the
optic nerve
takes on a certain shape as damage is done to the nerve
tissue inside the eye.