Complete Eye Exams in Mesa
Your eyes change over time...
Eye exams are important for people of all ages, even if they don’t necessarily have any current eye or visual problems. This is because the eyes change overtime and routine exams make it easier to monitor these changes. They’re also important for diagnosing and treating eye conditions and diseases in their early stages — way before significant vision loss or other complications occur. Book a comprehensive eye exam with us today to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy.
Did you know that factors such as aging, disease, and injury can impact your vision and overall eye health? That’s why we recommend routine eye exams to screen for conditions, test your eye muscle function, and keep your prescription up to date.
This is especially important if you wear glasses or contact lenses because you need to make sure that you’re getting the best possible vision correction.
During a comprehensive eye exam, our eye doctor will conduct a refraction test by asking you to look through a phoropter, a device that allows you to read letters and numbers on a standard eye chart to help determine your refractive error. You’ll be asked about which lenses make your vision clearer. Additionally, the eye doctor will inquire about your health history, family history of disease, if you’re taking any medication, and what activities your lifestyle involves.
Children's Eye Exams
Regular eye exams are essential for children because their vision needs change rapidly during childhood and adolescence. Moreover, 80% of learning is visual, and many challenges related to learning and sports can actually be linked to vision problems.
In fact, difficulties with concentration or restlessness can sometimes be misdiagnosed as ADHD when the root cause is actually vision-related.
Common symptoms of vision problems in children include headaches, fatigue from schoolwork or sports, and excessive squinting.
It's important to thoroughly examine your child’s eyes at different stages of growth to make sure that their eyes and vision remain healthy. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends eye exams at the ages of 6 months, 3 years, when starting school, and every 2 years thereafter (or as recommended by their eye doctor).
How Long Does a ComprehensiveEye Exam Take?
The duration of a comprehensive eye exam can vary based on several factors, including the patient's age, overall health, and the specific tests needed. Generally, these exams typically last between 30 minutes to an hour.
Tests Included in a Regular Eye Exam
Visual Field Test
A visual field test is used to identify any blind spots or abnormalities in your vision when looking at a specific object.
Refraction Exam
During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will determine your prescription for glasses or contact lenses. They will use a device called a phoropter, which contains various lenses, to test your visual acuity and find the correct prescription.
Binocular Vision Assessment
The test checks how well your eyes coordinate and work together and helps identify any problems with important visual skills like depth perception and eye teaming. The eye doctor will use different techniques and tools to examine your eye alignment, muscle strength, and ability to see 3D images during the test.
Color Evaluation
A color evaluation determines your ability to distinguish between different colors. It helps identify any color vision deficiencies or abnormalities, such as color blindness, which can make certain tasks challenging. It involves our eye doctor using colored plates or hidden numbers and shapes within a background of dots to test for color vision deficiencies.
Eye Pressure Test
An eye pressure test is quick and painless and measures the pressure inside your eye, which is also called tonometry. High eye pressure can indicate glaucoma, a serious eye disease that can lead to vision loss if not treated.
Peripheral Vision Assessment
This assesses your ability to see objects outside of your direct line of vision. It’s important because peripheral vision loss can be a symptom of a serious eye condition or disease. You can expect to be asked to look straight ahead while an object is moved into your side vision during this assessment.
Digital Retinal Imaging
This uses advanced optical technology to take detailed pictures of the back of your eye. It helps the eye doctor identify and track eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Corneal Mapping
This is a diagnostic test that measures the shape and curve of your cornea to detect conditions like astigmatism and keratoconus, which cause the cornea to become misshapen. To create a detailed map of the cornea’s surface, an eye doctor uses a tool called a corneal topographer. This test can also help determine if someone is a good candidate for LASIK surgery.
OCT Scan
An OCT (optical coherence tomography) scan uses light waves to capture detailed images of the retina and optic nerve. It’s a non-invasive procedure that aids in the diagnosis and management of important eye conditions such as macular degeneration and glaucoma. During the test, a laser scans the retina and creates a 3D image of the inside of the eye, similar to how a CT scan works.
Visual Acuity Test
To check how well you can see objects far away, a visual acuity test is conducted. It’s useful for detecting vision changes and diagnosing refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. During the test, you’ll be asked to read letters, numbers, or symbols from a standard eye chart to determine your visual acuity out of 20. Having 20/20 vision means seeing clearly at the standard level.
OPTOS Retinal Exam
An OPTOS retinal exam uses advanced technology to capture a wide-field view of the retina. This allows your eye doctor to detect and monitor a variety of eye conditions that may not be easily visible during a standard eye exam.