Comprehensive Eye Exams
Eye Examinations and Screenings
Complete eye care is more than just glasses or contact lenses. Your eye examination consists of various tests to evaluate the health of your eyes and to determine the best options to correct your visual needs. At Family EyeCare Center we combine sophisticated computerized testing, exact visual testing with good-old-fashion medical care. We listen and care about your special needs and preferences and present to you various options and recommendations to solve your visual needs. We also utilize advanced instrumentation and techniques to evaluate the health of your eyes. The doctor will view inside your eye to check for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and evidence of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Special testing may also be done to check for corneal distortion, astigmatism, dry eye disease, neurological diseases and glare. |
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Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Vision
One of the most important services
we provide at Family EyeCare Center
is the comprehensive eye health
checkup. This includes evaluation for
cataracts, glaucoma and macular
degeneration. The eye health evaluation
involves a series of tests that
allows us to compare clinical measurements
with physical observations.
There are 5 main evaluations that are
involved in the testing sequence.
This includes checking your eye pressure
using an instrument called a
tonometer, internal eye health evaluation
using an instrument called the
binocular indirect ophthalmoscope,
visual fields analysis that tests your
peripheral vision, external evaluation
that uses the biomicroscope and digital
retinal photography. These special
tests allow the doctors to evaluate
your total eye health status. The
tonometer for checking eye pressure
is usually the one instrument that
most patients remember It's the test
that uses a gentle puff of air that
makes most people jump a little or
surprises them. If you absolutely
loathe the air puff test, we also have
other methods for checking your eye
pressure. The eye pressure test is
essential for gauging your risk factors
for developing glaucoma. The binocular
indirect ophthalmoscope (or BIO)
is one of the instruments we use to
evaluate the inside of the eye. This
amazing test allows us to directly
view the internal structures of the
eye in 3-dimension almost as if we
are walking around inside your eye
and looking around.
The BIO is the funny looking instrument
that the doctors strap onto their
head and uses a special magnifying
lens and bright focused light source.
The BIO let's the doctor make observations
for glaucoma type changes,
diabetic changes, retinal thinning,
macular degeneration and blood pressure
and cholesterol changes. The
biomicroscope is a special microscope
and lighting system that allows the
doctors to assess the front or anterior
area of the eye. The doctors commonly
use this instrument for evaluating
cataract formation, corneal surface
health, dry eye issues, lid infections
and contact lens measurements.
The visual fields
analyzer is the test where you
push the button when you see
the flicker of light. This is a
very sophisticated test that
allows us to evaluate your
nerve and retinal integrity in
the peripheral areas of your
vision. This is one of the best
testing sequences that allow us
the earliest detection of nerve change
and possible disease process. Digital
imaging is the future and Family
EyeCare Center has one of the best
with our digital retinal photo system.
A picture is worth a thousand words
and having a digital document of the
inside of your eye is invaluable. The
screening photo only costs $36 and in
many cases may be covered by your
major medical insurance carrier. The
digital retinal photograph is a time
dated snapshot of the inside health of
your eye that gives us valuable comparisons
if you should ever have any
changes. New glasses and contact
lenses are great and fun, but the real
value is knowing your eyes are
healthy.
Contact Lens Fitting
There are literally hundreds of types of contact lenses available. Determining what is best for you is our job. There may actually be a dozen types of lenses that may work for you, but only one or two will be optimal. In order to determine the best type of contact lens for you, specific contact lens measurements may be necessary. The doctors at Family EyeCare Center have been at the forefront in contact lens technology for over 20 years. The doctors have participated in many contact lens clinical studies that have benefited thousands of their patients. Family EyeCare Center has one of the largest and most complete contact lens inventories in Northern California. In most cases, the doctors at Family EyeCare Center can start the fitting process (Program of Care) the same day as you general eye examination. 85% of our patients can be successfully fit their first visit. Our extensive contact lens inventory and expertise will save you time and frustration. The large inventory also allows for super quick emergency service. We guarantee you will be happy with your service and your new contact lenses. You will never be stuck with contacts that don't fit!
Clearing Up the Meaning of 20/20 Vision
With all of the complicated terms associated with vision, from prescription coordinates to the myriad of eye condition terms, one might think that "20/20 Vision" would have a far more complicated meaning than it does. In fact, you may be surprised just how simple the basis for 20/20 vision is.
When a patient takes a basic "eye chart" vision test in their eye doctor's office, they are undergoing what is referred to as a visual acuity test. This test utilizes a "Snellen chart," which you may know as that white chart with progressively smaller lines of letters moving down the chart. From twenty feet away, with one eye covered, the patient reads aloud the line with the smallest text they can see clearly. This is repeated with the other eye covered. Results usually determine whether or not a patient may need corrective lenses to improve their vision.
While 20/20 vision refers to "normal" quality eyesight, what 20/20 actually means is this: At 20 feet from the chart, a person with "normal" vision can read the smallest line of text with one eye closed. Therefore, that person can see at 20 feet away what a person with "normal" vision can also see clearly from 20 feet away. Someone with 20/40 vision must be no more than 20 feet away to clearly see what a person with 20/20 vision can see from 40 feet. This measurement scale continues upward in 20-foot increments to such distances as 20/200, which is considered legally blind.
As much as the term 20/20 has become synonymous with "perfect" vision, this is simply not the case. There are many people who sport 20/15 vision. 20/15 vision means that individual can see objects clearly from 20 feet away that people with "normal" vision need to be 15 feet away to see. There are also vision researchers developing vision technology that can reportedly improve an individual's vision to somewhere in the range of 20/5. There are differing opinions in the optical world as to how practical this level of vision would be to the general public.
Whatever your visual acuity, hopefully, this information helps clear up any confusion you may have about the term "20/20 vision." If you have questions that have not been answered here, consult your eye doctor.
Eye Exams: What to Expect
A thorough eye exam administered by an eye care doctor typically includes all, or an appropriate combination of, the following components:
Case History
Your eye care doctor will ask you 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 eye care doctor will conduct an external and internal exam 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 eye care doctor will assess the health of your eyes and look for the possibility of vision problems such as glaucoma, cataracts and corneal diseases. The doctor will also look for general systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and neurological disorders, which can be detected in limited instances through an eye exam.
Refractive Evaluation
Your eye care doctor will conduct several tests to determine your ability to see clearly, focus your eyes and whether you need prescription eyewear.
Binocular Evaluation
Your eye care 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 eye care doctor will make a final diagnosis and determine the treatment plan for you. The diagnosis includes the status of your vision system and any systemic health problems. The eye care 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.
Eye Exams: Your Windows to Wellness
Eye exams can reveal a lot about your health.
Sometimes a routine eye exam ends up being not so routine after all. Charles Brownlow, O.D., a practicing optometrist for 27 years and executive vice president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association, remembers one such exam a few years ago.
"I'd been seeing this particular patient -- let's call him 'Joe' -- for about 15 years," says Dr. Brownlow, "and one morning he came in for his regular eye exam.
"At first everything seemed strictly routine. Joe's vision hadn't changed in two years, and his eyes looked perfectly normal.
"But when I asked him some questions about his vision, he explained that one eye felt weaker than the other. He told me: 'Doc, things just don't look as bright or as sharp out of that eye!'
"After reviewing his chart and listening to his symptoms, I knew something was wrong and that we had to take action," recalls Dr. Brownlow. "Thankfully, my education and experience paid off that day. Countless other patients have also benefited over the years when visiting an optometrist because they believe they have a routine vision problem, but leave the office with a far different diagnosis."
Dr. Brownlow moved quickly. He referred his patient to a general physician, who sent him to a specialist. The diagnosis: carotid artery disease, in which fatty deposits build up on artery walls where they can trigger fatal blood clots.
"Joe had a major blockage in the carotid artery on one side of his neck," says Dr. Brownlow, and the blockage was cutting down on the blood supply to the brain and eye. "They hurried him into surgery, and he managed to avoid what could have been a life-threatening stroke."
Regular Eye Exams Are the Key
Most eye exams don't produce such dramatic consequences, but there's no doubt that getting your eyes checked every year or two is a key step in protecting the priceless asset that is your vision.
"Regular eye exams are extremely important, because they can uncover major health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure," says Dr. Brownlow. "But a periodic eye exam is also necessary to assess the overall health of the eyes, to determine whether or not the patient needs vision correction with lenses or just to reassure you that all is fine."
According to Dr. Brownlow, the typical eye exam lasts about 30 minutes and begins with a case history, in which the doctor reviews the patient's medical background and asks about past vision problems.
After that, the doctor examines both the exterior and interior of the eye, looking for possible damage caused by disease, injury or aging. "With the help of modern instruments, we can look at the iris, then straight through the pupil all the way back to the retina."
Depth perception, peripheral vision, and the clarity and accuracy of vision at various distances also are tested. The doctor will prescribe corrective eyewear where appropriate.
Confidence in Your Eye care Doctor
How can patients be sure they are getting a high-quality eye exam? "I think the best way to judge that is to think about how you feel when it's over," says Dr. Brownlow. "Do you have a feeling of confidence in the doctor? Did he or she care enough to ask about your life and your health? Were tests performed skillfully and compassionately?
"You want to make sure that the doctor had a good, long look inside your eye. That process usually takes a couple of minutes -- and even though most of us don't like that bright light shining in our eyes, we should put up with it so that the doctor can do his or her job carefully and thoroughly.
"Sure, the technology continues to accelerate every year, and both optometrists and ophthalmologists are now equipped with more tools than ever before," says Dr. Brownlow. "But the foundation remains the caring human being behind the instrument, your doctor."
Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Exams
Denis Humphreys, O.D. answers some of the questions that people frequently ask about eye exams.
Why should I have my eyes examined regularly?
In addition to ensuring proper eyesight, regular eye examinations allow your eye care doctor 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 because the vision loss is not reversible.
If you have regular eye exams, your eye care doctor can more readily detect potential problems and prescribe proper treatments to prevent vision loss. Don't determine the need for an eye exam on whether or not you are seeing relatively well. Even though your vision may be clear, 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 don't usually hurt when something is wrong.
What is an acceptable frequency for eye exams?
As a rule, you should not go beyond two years to have your eyes examined, and the recommended care is an exam 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 exam schedule that best meets your eye care needs.
When should my child have his or her first eye exam?
The American Optometric Association suggests that children should have their first regular eye exam at 6 months. Follow up exams should be done around age two to three because this is the age when a child's visual system undergoes its most rapid development, and when vision correction is most effective.
For example, your child could develop 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 exam?
As with adults, children's eyes should be examined every two years - or more frequently if there is an eye or vision problem or 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 exams. 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 distance vision. If left untreated, these problems can cause learning disabilities, headaches and other visual discomforts.
Do I need a special eye exam as I get close to, or past, age 40?
You don't need a special eye exam over age 40, but it's critical that you have your regular eye exam 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 care doctor to detect the first signs of disease and prescribe the appropriate treatments to prevent vision loss.
Vision Urban Legends
The Truth Behind Some Common and Some Not-So-Common Eye Myths
Even as youngsters, many of us had a hard time believing mom when she warned us, "If you keep crossing your eyes like that, they might stay that way for good!" Of course, even if we didn't believe it, we knew little enough about the truth that we always had mom's warning in the back of our minds whenever we made those "funny faces" again. Truth is that crossed eyes are most often the result of a congenital condition called strabismus. Regardless, the power of myth can be impressive, especially to children, and especially with something as vital as vision. Now that we're all grown up, let's get some of these vision myths cleared up, shall we?
Children sitting too close to the television seems to be another sore spot for concerned parents, who often worry that continued close-watching can cause long-term vision problems. Although this CAN cause eye fatigue, there is no danger to the eyes or overall vision, no matter how close kids sit to the screen. The same goes for people who use computers for several hours a day. Long-term eye damage is not a possibility, but it always helps to take short breaks from staring at the video monitor to prevent eye strain. Looking at objects across the room every fifteen minutes or so usually does the trick.
The controversial television rears its ugly head again with our next myth, but it has company this time. Both watching TV in the dark and reading in dim light have gained nasty reputations for causing vision damage if done consistently. Dark/light contrast or glare from a TV screen can both cause eye strain, but again, there is no need to worry about long-term vision problems as a result.
Carrots have gained such a "good for your eyes" reputation that it has become nearly impossible to bite into the orange veggie without thinking about your eyesight improving! Before you order a crate of carrots to improve your vision, know that while they are rich in Vitamin A, only a small amount of the vitamin is necessary for maintaining good eyesight. If you have a Vitamin A deficiency, carrots and other sources of Vitamin A could contribute to seeing better in dim light, but that is about the extent of the link. Actually, an overabundance of Vitamin A can cause blurred vision (among other ailments) in some cases!
Bottom line: If you have vision problems, glasses or contacts will be of far more value to you than consuming mass quantities of carrots.
One should hesitate to even mention the age-old "home remedy" of putting a steak on a black eye to stop swelling. Of course, a cool steak does nothing a fresh ice pack can't do much more effectively, and at far less expense.
There are also vision facts that some could believe to be myths that actually are true. One of the more important ones is the fact that staring directly into a solar eclipse CAN cause severe vision damage, and quickly. The direct light from the sun could render you blind in under a minute, in fact. Don't get burned by believing that staring up at the sun on a regular summer day is harmless as long as you are wearing dark glasses or squinting. The truth is, the sun's ultra-violet light can still do damage to your retinas, lenses or corneas in these cases.
One of the more dangerous vision myths is that glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness in America, is a disease that effects only the elderly. This is far from the truth, as glaucoma has several variations, few detectable symptoms, and varying risk levels depending on race, family history, or medical condition. Glaucoma - a condition relating to lack of fluid drainage in the eyes - is considered a thief of a disease that, with little advance warning, tends to sneak in and steal the vision from those who suffer from it. That is why early detection and treatment is so important, and undergoing simple eye pressure tests (usually common in a basic eye exam) every two years has been found to be the most effective method of preventing possible permanent vision damage from glaucoma.
No matter the myth or the reality, always consult your eye doctor with any questions you might have about your eyes, or any vision-related "legends" about which you are unsure. Don't worry that your inquiry might sound ridiculous. It is far less embarrassing to ask a simple question than to return to your doctor's office later with an eye problem brought about by believing erroneous information. Or to arrive for an eye appointment wearing a steak on your face.
Why Eye Exams Are Important For Overall Health
The eyes are the windows into the entire body. Just as the eyes allow us to see what's happening in the world around us, they also allow doctors to see what's happening inside of our bodies.
A comprehensive eye exam performed by an eyecare specialist like an optometrist not only assesses the condition of a person's vision, but can also detect the onset of eye disease and other serious health issues. As a result, vision care is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and should be a top priority.
Vision Care
Research indicates that 3.4 million Americans age 40 or older suffer from visual impairments including cloudy or blurred vision, near or far sightedness and even blindness. Predictably, as the population continues to age, the occurrence of vision disorders will increase.
In addition, adults are prone to developing various age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Fortunately, eyecare doctors can often detect symptoms of these diseases in their earliest stages, even before a patient is aware of vision issues.
Link to Health Management
Eye exams serve as a preventative tool not only for identifying eye impairments but also symptoms of serious diseases. For example, examining the cornea and blood flow through the retina in the eye can help eyecare specialists detect signs of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. Ultimately, this early detection can not only save patients' eyesight but also alert them to the presence of disease before it causes serious damage.
Taking Charge
It's clear to see that an annual eye exam provides important benefits. A comprehensive eye exam is straightforward, painless, and takes less than an hour to complete. By receiving your annual exam, you will be taking a proactive step to safeguard your vision and sustain your total-body health.
Your Eye Doctor & You
Bothered by headaches? Hay fever? High blood pressure? Your vitamin intake? Your golf score?
Talk to your eye doctor.
So how do you know what to tell or ask your eye doctor?
Consider these tips for making the most of your next eye exam.
If there is some part of your eye exam, diagnosis, or treatment that you don't understand, talk to your doctor about it. "Ask about the consequences of your condition.. For example, how it will affect your vision and what kinds of tests you will need. Ask about your treatment as well -- the benefits or side effects, and whether you will have any restrictions in diet, exercise, or medications. we also suggest taking notes and requesting written instructions from your doctor. "Ask for information that explains about your condition, so you can read them at home. Then if something's still unclear, call the doctor with more questions.
Take charge of your eye health. A good eye exam is a dual responsibility -- the doctor's and yours.
So how do you know what to tell or ask your eye doctor?
Consider these tips for making the most of your next eye exam.
Health Record
"Be prepared to give your eye doctor a thorough health background . Bring a complete list of your medications -- both prescription and non-prescription -- including antihistamines, decongestants, asthma inhalers, and nutritional supplements. People typically overlook over-the-counter products, even though they often have an effect on the eyes.
Also report any current difficulties you are having with your vision: blurring, dry eyes, double vision, difficulty seeing at night, eye strain. And tell your doctor about chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and allergies, as well as any surgery you've had since your last exam.
Be prepared to discuss your family health history, too. For most eye diseases, there's a hereditary component. Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and early cataracts, for example, tend to run in families.
Lifestyle Checklist
How you use your eyes helps the doctor decide what corrective eyewear is best for you. Let the doctor know about your work environment. Do you use a computer? How many hours a day? Is the lighting in your office natural or artificial? Do you do a lot of close up work -- bookkeeping, editing, electronics? Do you work outdoors or in hazardous surroundings?
Discuss your leisure activities as well. Do you play racquetball, tennis, or golf? Are you a fisherman or boater? An avid reader or quilter? The right eyewear can protect your eyes, enhance your skills, and improve your vision.
