Many diseases of the eye can be corrected appropriately if they’re caught early, which is why prevention is so important. Even if you don’t think anything is wrong, it is always best to have an evaluation to be proactive and keep your eyesight as healthy as possible.
Our comprehensive eye exams are intended to provide a full picture of your overall eye health. Optometrists are often the first healthcare professionals to spot the signs of chronic health conditions that might seem completely unrelated to your vision, like hypertension and diabetes. If detected early, we can take necessary steps for treatment and provide the early intervention needed to minimize any effect on your vision and overall health.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), adults ages 18-64 should schedule an exam every two years for low-risk patients and annually for higher-risk. For people over the age of 65, an annual eye exam is recommended, regardless of overall health. If you have a high risk of developing an eye condition due to a pre-existing condition or genetic trait, more frequent exams are recommended.
What happens during your eye exam will sometimes be specific to your medical history and age, and can vary depending on your optometrist. The following tests, however, are generally recommended:
  • Visual acuity tests to determine your vision using the Snellen chart or the “Big E”
  • Tests of field vision to spot signs of peripheral vision or blind-spot issues
  • Covering one eye to look for binocular or strabismus vision problems
  • Autorefractor, aberrometer, or retinoscopy to decipher your prescription
  • A refraction test to finalize your prescription via the use of a phoropter
  • A Slit Lamp exam is used to detect common conditions and diseases of the eye and your overall eye health
  • A tonometry for glaucoma test seeks to measure the pressure within your eye
  • Dilating the pupils to examine the retina, blood vessels, and optic nerve using an ophthalmoscopy
One of the biggest advantages to having a comprehensive eye exam is to be proactive about your eye health. We will also test for refractive errors like farsightedness, astigmatism or nearsightedness, and focusing problems, or other vision issues such as binocular or amblyopic vision.
Just like annual physical exams can help to spot signs of underlying disease and conditions, eye exams can help to detect certain signs of disease that might otherwise go undetected. Things such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration often have no early warning signs, but can develop quickly and cause permanent vision loss.

If issues are detected early, you can halt or slow down the symptoms. But if they go unchecked, it can lead to irreversible vision loss. If we catch eye conditions early, usually the treatment is less invasive and often less expensive, not to mention that it will enhance your overall quality of life.

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