When?
Children should undergo their first formal visual evaluation on or around their third birthday. Pediatric vision analysis will reveal whether there is a tendency toward nearsightedness, farsightedness, crossed eye, astigmatism, or amblyopia. Perhaps more importantly, it will determine whether the many visual skills that your child will need are beginning to develop as they should.
Proper focusing and eye muscle coordination assures your youngster the visual efficiency and comfort he or she needs for optimal academic and athletic performance. Periodic reevaluation will be recommended usually every one or two years), depending upon your child's individual case.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 40 should undergo routine evaluation every two years. Certain ocular and systemic conditions such as high myopia, glaucoma, diabetes, and high blood pressure, necessitate more frequent exams to monitor retinal health.
The incidence of age related visual and ocular changes such as presbyopia and glaucoma significantly increases after age forty. Because certain sight threatening disorders are "silent" (without symptoms) in their early stages, it is advisable to undergo annual examinations beginning at this time.
Ocular changes affecting older adults, such as cataracts macular degeneration, can also be diagnosed earlier through routine preventative check-ups.
How?
The examination procedure will take approximately one hour. We ask that you allow for some flexibility in your schedule on the day of your exam in the event that slightly more time is needed to complete the testing and address all of your questions. We also ask that you bring your most recent eyeglasses and/or contact lenses and a list of any ocular or oral medications you may be taking.
Because many ocular and visual changes are hereditary or influenced by other health problems, the first step in the examination procedure is a thorough personal medical and ocular history.
Testing will then be performed to determine the eyes' refractive status in order to derive the appropriate distance and/or reading correction. Focusing and eye coordination skills will then be assessed.
An external ocular examination is performed using a binocular microscope. Glaucoma testing (intraocular pressure) is also done at this time.
Finally, the doctor will use a hand held direct ophthalmoscope to view the interior structures of each eye. This instrument permits observation of the central retina, including the optic nerve and macula. It allows for screening of any abnormalities in these vital areas.
At the conclusion of this examination your vision will be unaffected and you will be able to immediately resume your normal activities.
Eye Health Examination
Dilated Fundus Evaluation: This procedure is recommended every two years on average. The doctor will instill eyedrops which open the pupils to allow for a comprehensive examination of the internal eye. This painless exam permits an unobstructed view of the interior eye. Eye problems s uch as retinal tears, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration are detectable with periodic, routince dilated exams. Persons with diabetes or family history of eye disease should undergo this procedure annually.
Optomap: This advanced digital scanning device takes an electronic image of the retina for monitoring retinal appearance and health. The image is then permanently archived for future reference and comparison. This technology may be used alone or in conjunction with dilating drops.
ZeaVision's QuantifEYE® Program: First of its kind for assessing risk of developing Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This simple test is indicated for anyone with a family history of AMD and for all patients over age 60 or who have a history of smoking. Based upon the results, personal nutritional supplementation will be evaluated and recommended.
