EYE EXAMS

For anyone who has had a severe issue with their vision or has had a serious eye problem knows just how important it is to maintain the health of the eye. These cases always are always riddled with a certain sense of regret by individuals who wish they could have caught their symptoms earlier. Eye exams that are performed by a school nurse or your employer are not the same as a comprehensive eye exam given by a certified optometrist. An optometrist will screen your vision thoroughly for eye and other diseases that can lead to vision loss. Treating these complications early is an essential reason to visit your eye doctor on a regular basis. An eye exam is a series of tests performed by an optometrist accesing one’s ability to focus on and recognize objects within a field of vision as well as other tests and examinations related to the eyes. All individuals should have perodic and thorough eye exams as part of a routine primary care, especially since many eye diseases are dormant and can be chronic, relapsing or remitting. Or in medical terms asymptomatic. Eye examinations may detect potentially treatable blinding eye diseases, ocular manifestations of systemic disease, or signs of tumours or other anomalies of the brain.

 

Normally an eye examination takes about an hour as it requires many functional tests to determine the overall health of the eye. Some of the testing will cover a corneal analysis, nuerological disorders, ocular eye health condition, eye pressure, corneal thickness, endo thelial cell counts, slit-lamp examination, stereopsis, color vision, visual field screening, extraocular motilities focus, interpupillary distance, tonometry, visual acuity, near point of convergence, pupils and other tests to ensure good eye health. External examination of eyes consists of inspection of the eyelids, surrounding tissues and palpebral fissure. Palpation of the orbital rim may also be desirable, depending on the presenting signs and symptoms. The conjunctiva and sclera can be inspected by having the individual look up, and shining a light while retracting the upper or lower eyelid. The cornea and iris may be similarly reviewed and investigated. Some of the tests are also carried out by high resoultion cameras allowing optometrists to pinpoint conditions. Conditions diagnosed during eye examinations can include but are not limited to amblyopia, diplopia, myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and strabismus.

 

For first time eye exam patients, it is imperative that a full and accurate medical history be divulged allowing the examiner to do a thorough investigation armed with the proper medical information.

 

Eyecare experts recommend that everyone have a complete eye exam every one to three years, depending on age, risk factors and physical condition. For children, some experts suggest that approximately one in 20 preschool children and one in four school-aged children have an eye problem that could cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. Children without symptoms and who are at low risk for eye problems should have their eyes screened by six months of age, then examined at age three and again at the start of school. Risk-free children should then continue to have their eyes examined at least every two years throughout school. The American Optometric Association also recommends an annual eye exam for all adults who wear either contact lenses or eyeglasses. If you don't normally need vision correction, you still need to have an eye exam every one to two years up to the age of 40, depending on your visual change rate and your basic overall health. Doctors often recommend more frequent examinations for adults with diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders, because many diseases can have an impact on the health of your eyes. It is recommended for senior patients to have at least one eye examination a year.

 

Once a thorough examination has been completed to determine the health of your eyes, the optometrist is then able to advise corrective measures to improve your vision if necessary. This could be either contact lenses or eyeglasses depending on the patient’s preference. Austin County Eye Associates has a full service optical shop on site to meet the needs of every patient from high fashion to everyday eyewear to a wide variety of contact lenses to ensure comfort. The sole purpose of the clinic is to provide better vision to its patients.

 

For additional information or to schedule an Eye Examination, please contact us at (866) 611-7556.