NORTHWEST EYECARE
Comprehensive Exams
During your comprehensive eye exam, we will evalute visual acuity, color vision, depth perception and blood pressure. Retinal imaging and peripheral vision testing may also be performed. Your optometrist will discuss your medical history, including any current medications and problems you may be experiencing. Your doctor will not only determine your corrective prescription at this time, but will also evaluate your eyes for any signs of ocular health conditions. The internal eye pressure will also be checked to help in detecting glaucoma. We recommend having your eyes dilated during your exam to further check your ocular health. During the exam, your optometrist will also assess how well your eyes work together, noting any eye muscle imbalance or fatigue. If you would like contacts, the doctor will perform an additional contact lens evaluation for them. During this evaluation, measurements will be taken to determine the appropriate lens design for your needs and lifestyle including disposables, torics for astigmatism, bifocals, gas permeables, and specialty contact lenses.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends a yearly eye exam for adults who wear eyeglasses or contacts. Individuals who have no visual correction should be seen every two years, up to the age of 40. If you are over 40, annual exams are important in order to detect age-related problems such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Pediatric Exams
We combine a child-friendly atmosphere with the latest technical instruments to ensure accurate results. Some telltale signs your child may be experiencing vision problems are squinting, holding reading material close to their face, avoiding visual tasks, and poor school performance. Children with existing and ongoing vision problems or risk factors should have their eyes examined more frequently. Common risk factors for vision problems include: premature birth, developmental delays, turned or crossed eyes, family history of eye disease, history of eye injury or other physical illness or disease.
According to the AOA, all children should have their eyes examined at six months of age, at age three, and again at the start of kindergarten. Children without vision problems or risk factors for eye problems should then continue regular eye exams at least every two years.