WHY HAVE A ROUTINE EYE EXAM AT NOVA EYE CARE?
The Comprehensive Eye Care service at Nova Eyecare not only performs routine eye exams, but also provides screening and treatment for many general eye conditions. For patients with more complex conditions such as dry eyes, glaucoma and cataracts, we can provide additional diagnostic eye testings or referrals and coordinate care with the appropriate sub specialists.
Our exams are detailed and different than what you might expect...
This is because we incorporate many eye testings that are not usually done elsewhere:
- Detailed Health History
- Medications Review
- Blood Pressure Check
- Visual Acuity Assessment
- Contrast Sensitivity Testing
- Color Testing
- Peripheral Testing
- Eye Muscle Coordination
- Pupil Assessment
- Glaucoma Screening with Eye Pressure Check
- Advanced Retina Scanning with Optomap
- Refraction check for eyeglasses needs
- Slit-Lamp for detailed Anterior Exam of the eye
- Advanced Video & Photograph of your eyes to show the front and back of your eyes!
Why it's done:
An eye exam helps detect eye problems at their earliest stage — when they’re most treatable. Regular eye exams give your eye care professional a chance to help you correct or adapt to vision changes and provide you with tips on caring for your eyes.
When to have an eye exam
Several factors may determine how frequently you need an eye exam, including your age, health and risk of developing eye problems. General guidelines are as follows:
Children 3 years and younger
School-age children and adolescents
Adults
- Every two to five years your 20s and 30s
- Every one to two years from 40’s
- Every year from 50’s and years after
Have your eyes checked more often if you:
- Wear glasses or contact lenses, your prescription is only valid for One Year!
- Have a family history of eye disease or loss of vision
- Have a chronic disease that puts you at greater risk of eye disease, such as diabetes
- Take medications that have serious eye side effects
How you prepare for eye exam?
1. Bring your prescription eyewear
If you wear contact lenses or glasses, bring them to your appointment. Your eye doctor will want to make sure your prescription is the best one for you.
2. Other precautions
If your eyes are dilated as a part of your eye exam, you may want to bring sunglasses to wear after your eye exam is complete, as daylight or other bright lights may be uncomfortable or cause blurred vision. Also, consider having someone else drive you home.
What you can expect:
Before the exam
If you’re seeing a new eye doctor or if you’re having your first eye exam, expect questions about your vision history. Part of the examination, such as taking your medical history and the initial eye test, may be performed by a clinical assistant or technician.
Your answers help your eye doctor understand your risk of eye disease and vision problems. Be prepared to give specific information, including:
- Are you having any eye problems now?
- Have you had any eye problems in the past?
- Do you wear glasses or contacts now? If so, are you satisfied with them?
- What health problems have you had in recent years?
- Were you born prematurely?
- Are you taking any medications?
- Do you have any allergies to medications, food or other substances?
- Have you ever had eye surgery?
- Does anyone in your family have eye problems, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or retinal detachments?
- Do you or does anyone in your family have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or any other health problems that can affect the whole body?
An Eye Exam usually involves these steps
- You’ll be asked about your medical history and any vision problems you might be experiencing.
- Your eye doctor measures your visual acuity to see if you need glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision.
- You’ll be given a numbing drop in your eyes. Then your eye pressure is measured.
- To get a good detailed look inside of your eyes, we offer Optomap Retina Scan
- In other cases, to make it easier for your doctor to examine the inside of your eye, he or she will likely dilate your eyes with eyedrops.
- After waiting for the dilating drops to take effect, your eye doctor checks the health of your eyes, possibly using several lights to evaluate the front of the eye and the inside of each eye. .
After the exam
The Three O's in Eye Care
There are three different types of eye specialists. Which specialist you choose may be a matter of personal preference or will depend on the nature of your eye problem.
- Ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who provide full eye care, such as giving you a complete eye exam, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing and treating complex eye diseases, and performing eye surgery.
- Optometrists. Optometrists provide many of the same services as ophthalmologists, such as evaluating your vision, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing common eye disorders and treating selected eye diseases with drugs. If you have a complex eye problem or need surgery, your doctor can refer you to an ophthalmologist.
- Opticians. Opticians fill prescriptions for eyeglasses, including assembling, fitting and selling them. Some opticians also sell contact lenses. Opticians do not provide eye health evaluations.
Related Information
Opening Hours
| Monday – Thursday | 8:30 – 5:00 |
| Friday | 8:30 - 4:00 |
| Saturday-Sunday | Closed |
| Open During Lunch |