Comprehensive Eye Exams

Our eyes are very delicate and can be adversely influenced by many things around us. Some people experience minor irritations caused by allergens such as pollen or tobacco smoke, whilst others go on to develop serious ocular health problems like cataracts or glaucoma. Nevertheless, our vision is the sense that we rely upon the most and for this reason, keeping our eyes as healthy as possible should be one of our top priorities. One of the most effective ways to do this is by attending comprehensive eye exams on a fairly regular basis.

A comprehensive eye exam is a little different from a vision screening. A vision screening is used simply to determine how well someone can see at different distances and can identify refractive eye problems including myopia (nearsightedness), which is the most commonly diagnosed issue related to refraction in the world. A comprehensive eye exam looks at every aspect of your ocular health in addition to checking the quality of your vision.

Comprehensive eye exams are usually undertaken annually, although this frequency may vary depending on your individual eye health. We are delighted to be able to offer appointments for this service, carried out by our experienced and passionate team, at our optical center in Rocky River, OH.

What to Expect from your Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Comprehensive eye exams normally always involve a series of different tests and assessments which will allow our team to build up a clear and accurate picture of the current health and condition of your eyes. If any of the initial evaluations produce results that indicate that further investigation is required, this will be explained to you at the end of your appointment, along with details about what you can expect to happen next. Early identification and treatment of eye diseases are crucial if the patient is to have the best outcome that sees them enjoying healthy eyes and great long-term vision.

Patient Consultation

At the start of every appointment, our optometrist will have a chat with you about your vision and eye health. If we don’t yet have your medical and optical history, we will ask you about both of these. This is because this information can alert us to any allergies that you may have, whether or not there is a likelihood of you developing any serious eye health problems, and tell us if you are taking any current medications that need to be taken into consideration if you need any treatment for eye problems. We will also ask you about how you feel your eyes are functioning and if you have any symptoms that you are concerned about.

Visual Acuity Testing

This is the part of an eye test that people are most familiar with and is true, visual screening. Using an eye chart, our optometrist will determine how well you can see at different distances and whether or not you need prescription lenses to correct your vision. If you are found to have a refractive eye error, we may conduct a series of other tests to discover what prescription you will need.

Slit Lamp Test

A slit lamp is a special tool that allows the doctor to examine the internal and external parts of the eye in detail. This includes the iris, lens, cornea, optic nerve and conjunctiva. This evaluation enables our optometrist to assess your eyes and check for signs of a range of ocular health problems including conjunctivitis, cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.

Tonometry

This test is used to check for the presence of glaucoma – a condition characterized by the accumulation of pressure inside the eyeball. When this happens, pressure placed onto the optic nerve can lead to vision loss and even total, permanent blindness. The results of tonometry testing can indicate risk factors for glaucoma too, meaning that action can be taken to prevent the effects of this debilitating condition.

Visual Field Test

This test is used to assess your peripheral vision. Some types of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, can affect your peripheral vision first. By assessing how wide your field of vision is, we can check that concerning eye conditions aren’t developing.

These assessments represent just a few of the tests you can expect to experience during your comprehensive eye exam. To find out more about what is involved, or to schedule an appointment to have your eyes evaluated by our knowledgeable and experienced team, please contact Berris Optical in Rocky River, OH today.