Comprehensive Eye Care

To maintain good vision and to keep your eyes healthy, it is important to have routine eye exams. For those with stable vision and without any eye disease having routine eye exams every two years is important. At this exam your eyes will be dilated so the doctor can see into your retina, your vision will be checked and you will be screened for eye diseases or disorders. If further testing is required a more comprehensive exam and testing will be scheduled.

If you experience any changes in your vision between regularly scheduled visits with your eye specialist, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Early detection of problems and treatment of problems can be the key to preventing loss of vision.

Preparing for Your Eye Exam

When a person calls to make an eye appointment, he or she should be prepared to describe any current vision problems. In addition, patients should ask if the eye examination will affect their vision temporarily and if they will need someone to drive them home. They may also want to ask about the cost of the exam, if their insurance plan will cover any of the cost, and how payment is handled.

Before going to the appointment, patients should gather the following information to help answer questions the eye care professional may ask:

• Symptoms of current eye problems (flashes of light, difficulty seeing at night, temporary double vision, loss of vision, etc.).
• Eye injuries or eye surgeries (approximate dates, where treated)
• Family history of eye problems (glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, etc.)
• Any questions about their vision, glasses, contacts, laser surgery, etc.
• A list of all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs currently being used
• Their general health condition (allergies, chronic health problems, operations, etc.)

Patients should also bring the following items with them to their eye appointment:

• Glasses, contact lenses or both
• A list of all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs currently being taken
• Medical or health insurance card
• Photo ID

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Signs that an Eye Exam May be Needed:

Children

• Holding a book too close to their eyes
• Difficulty reading the blackboard in school
• Complaints of blurry eyesight
• Squinting a lot
• Closing or covering one eye in order to see

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule your appointment today.