Comprehensive Eye Exams

Because the eye is a complex system inside in which many things may go wrong without displaying symptoms, comprehensive eye exams are imperative to maintaining your visual health. While these can include a variety of tests, the most common are:

Visual Acuity

Using the eye chart that you probably recognize, this tests the sharpness of your vision, for both distance (projected chart) and up close (hand held chart).

Cover Test

This tests how your eyes move and function together. By covering one eye at a time, the doctor can make sure that one is not over (or under) compensating for the other. This checks for many problems including lazy eye.

Tonometry

Because glaucoma is often associated with increased ocular pressure, we perform a test to check this pressure on each patient.  Since lower pressure doesn’t always mean you don’t have glaucoma,  Dr. Orgain examines the optic nerve in the posterior of the eye during the exam to ensure it appears healthy as well.  This is one of many reasons you should have regular checkups as increased ocular pressure is usually not painful but can quietly damage your nerve tissue leading to reduced vision and possibly blindness.  Eye exams will detect these problems before they can cause extensive damage to your eye sight.

Autorefraction & Keratometry

Performed on every patient, these automated reading give the doctor a good overview of your prescription and corneal curvature to assist in getting you the absolute best vision possible during the exam.

Retinoscopy

Performed using the eye chart and a set of lenses, your doctor shines light into your eyes in order to assess an estimated range of your prescription.   This gives the doctor a very good objective measurement of your prescription, which is then followed by the refraction to fine tune your Rx.  It is also used frequently in children that would have difficulty with accurately answering the questions necessary during the refraction process.

Refraction

Similar to a retinoscopy, the doctor uses an eye chart and a series of lenses, asking you which lens allows you to see the chart better. These results, along with the doctor’s analysis of your accommodation, prescription history, ocular health, and other factors,  will result in your final glasses or contact lens prescription.

Eye Health Exam

This is the portion of the examination that the doctor will evaluate your eyes for possible diseases or problems that may be beginning underneath the surface. Testing for elevated pressure levels using tonometry allows your doctor to evaluate your risk for glaucoma. A dilated pupil examination will allow your doctor to evaluate the lens and retina, along with the other internal structures of your eyes.

The condition, medical history, and problems are different for each patient, so not every comprehensive eye exam will look the same.   For children, to catch problems early we highly recommend that an eye exam be performed for children at 6 months, 3 years, before first grade and at least every two years after.  For adults, the recommended time frame is every year to evaluate ocular health and keep your vision at its sharpest.

Contact us today and see what our friendly staff can do for you!