Comprehensive Eye Care
Eye exams are an important part of staying healthy. Whether you’re experiencing changes in your vision or have a concern about the condition of your eyes. We will complete a thorough eye exam and let you know all about the health of your eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that you get a baseline eye examination at the age of 40. A baseline screen can help identify signs of eye disease at an early stage when many treatments can have the greatest impact on preserving vision. However, some people shouldn’t wait until they are 40 to have a comprehensive eye exam. If you have an eye disease or if you have a risk factor for developing one, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of eye disease, you should see an ophthalmologist even if you are younger than 40. Upon examining your eyes, your ophthalmologist can tell you how often you should undergo an eye exam.
Dry Eye Care
Dry eyes can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. We will take a detailed history, including your symptoms, general health problems, medications and environmental factors as they may be contributing to your dry eye problem. We will perform an external examination of your eyes, including evaluating your lid structure, blink dynamics and corneal surface. We may measure the quantity and quality of tears for any abnormalities. Special dyes may be put into your eyes to better observe tear flow and evaluate the outer surface of the eye and how it’s affected by dryness. After this evaluation, our eye doctors can determine if you have dry eyes and advise you on treatment options.
Diabetic Screening & Management
The best way to handle eye problems related to diabetes is through regular monitoring, early detection and prompt treatment. Early detection and treatment typically begins with the retinal exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to dilate (widen) your pupils to allow your doctor to better view the inside of your eyes. In addition to directly visualizing your retina, your doctor may take photographs of your retina or perform other tests such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate retinal thickness to determine if fluid has leaked into retinal tissue. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with type 1 diabetes have their first eye exam within the first five years after diagnosis. If you have type 2 diabetes, the recommendation is to have your first eye exam shortly after you receive a diagnosis. This is because type 2 diabetes often goes undetected and undiagnosed for years. After a baseline exam, you should have an eye exam at least once a year (or maybe more often depending on your specific situation). If you wear glasses or contacts, you probably need an annual eye exam to keep your prescription up to date. During that exam, your doctor will conduct a few tests to see if your vision has changed as a result of diabetes.
Macular Degeneration Screening & Management
Early detection of macular degeneration is very important because treatment can delay or reduce the severity of the disease. In order to diagnose macular degeneration a complete examination will be performed. Drops will be put in your eye to dilate (widen) your pupil. This allows the eye doctor to look through a special lens to see inside your eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) picture can be taken to see how thick the retina is and to identify accumulated fluid.
Specialty Contact Lens Fitting
The first step in finding the best contacts for you is to schedule for a comprehensive eye exam and contact lens fitting. This is to make sure your eyes are healthy enough to wear contact lenses and counsel you about what to expect when wearing contacts. Most insurance plans cover for a routine eye exam to evaluate the health of your eyes. Contact lens evaluation and fitting is a separate procedure that is often not covered by insurances. During the contact lens fitting process, detailed measurements of your eyes are taken and trial lenses are used to determine the best possible fit and if you can comfortably wear contacts. A contact lens fitting may take more than a single visit. You may need to return for follow-up visits to make sure the lenses continue to fit properly and remain comfortable after prolonged periods of wear. In some cases, changes of lens size or design are needed before the fitting process is complete. Your prescription for contact lens is written only after the contact lens fitting process is completed and is valid for 12 months.
Pediatric Eye Care
In the comprehensive child’s eye exam, you can expect our doctor to make your child feel as comfortable as possible. We will talk to you about any concerns you may have in regard to your child’s eye health. We will assess your child’s overall eye health and determine if glasses are needed. We will use an eye chart to assess your child’s ability to see far away and close up to determine if your child is nearsighted or farsighted. We will flash a light in each eye to see how the pupil and your child’s eyes respond. We will inspect your child’s peripheral vision by moving an object back and forth in front of their eyes. Our optometrists are experts at working with children and our team will make sure that you and your child feel at ease.
Medication Toxicity Screening & Monitoring
Certain medications may increase the risk of certain eye problems and your doctor may want to monitor you. Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) is one of the most common medications that is monitored for ocular toxicity. Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) is a medicine that is used primarily for preventing or treating malaria. However, it can also help treat inflammatory conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome. Using this medication for a long time can cause damage to the retina, which may lead to vision loss. However, it may not be identified until there is considerable loss of vision. Therefore, it is necessary that you visit an ophthalmologist regularly for evaluation. A plaquenil screening may include a visual field test, OCT imaging, multifocal ERG and photos of your eye. If there are any signs of damage to your retina, your ophthalmologist may ask you to consult with your physician to see if you should continue taking the drug.
Emergency Eye Care
If you have an eye care emergency or essential need, consider calling our office to see if we can help. Situations like getting hit in the eye, chemical burn, sudden onset of blurry or loss of vision, eye pain, red eye, eye scratches and flashes of light or floaters may require urgent attention. We have the experience and expertise to manage your eye care emergency effectively