5 Important Tips From Inspire Vision Care
- Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye exam between the ages of 6 and 9 months.
- 80% of what kids are learning in school is based on visual sensory input. Don’t wait for your child to fall behind before checking for signs of vision-loss.
- Many people live with vision-loss without knowing it. If you haven’t had an eye exam lately, or ever, let this be the sign that prompts you to check them. Life is better when you can see clearly.
- Online learning is challenging many of us. Lack of paying attention, headaches, eye strain and fatigue may all be symptoms of vision-loss.
- Driving or operating heavy machinery with any kind of vision-loss that has not been addressed, endangers countless people. Do not wait until it is too late to update your prescription to address the blurry road signs or put coatings on your glasses to address the bright LED lights from on-coming traffic.
What happens during the Pre-Testing stage of an Eye Exam?
Pre-testing is an important step before the examination takes place. During this step, the eye care team will collect information about your eyes for Optometrist to evaluate. This helps the Optometrist understand the condition of your eyes and determine a plan for your unique situation.
Auto-Refraction: This will obtain a benchmark for obtaining a patient’s prescription. From this benchmark, the eye doctor will be able to refine your prescription as accurately as possible during the comprehensive exam.
Lensometry: This is for measuring the prescription that is in the lens of your existing pair of glasses. Between the prescription in your current pair of glasses and the newly verified prescription, we can show you how much your eyes have changed since your last visit.
Colour Testing: This is for detecting colour blindness. Some patients already know they may not perceive colours correctly, and for others, this may be the first time it’s recognized.
Putting in Eye Drops: This is not always necessary depending on the patient, but it is especially helpful for the third part of the eye exam, in which the optometrist is scouting the interior of the eye for any thing that could be evidence of an issue developing.
What kind of specialty testing can I receive?
Two of the most important tests we can provide are called: Specialty Retina Testing and Visual Field Testing
When providing comprehensive eye care, Optometrists recommend a fundus photo for every patient. This test is especially helpful for us to detect any damage in the eye, eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macula degeneration, and for record keeping purposes when we compare how your eye is changing after each visit. Using the retinal image helps assess the retina in much greater detail to find the earliest signs of health changes.
Fundus Imaging: To build a more detailed patient record of how their eye health is progressing through life, we do high resolution photography of the interior of the eye. These photos are used to improve the quality of the ocular health assessment. These photos are also to be referenced in the future when comparing the development your eye’s health over time.
Visual Field Testing: A visual field test is performed at the initial visit or as soon as glaucoma is suspected. It evaluates vision loss due to glaucoma, damage to the visual pathways of the brain, and other optic nerve diseases. When glaucoma is diagnosed the visual field data is used to determine the severity of disease. This test is also frequently requested by the Ministry of Transportation if they suspect a visual assessment is needed for your continued allowance to drive.
Myth Busting: Many patients think that a visit to the eye doctor (optometrist) is just only for obtaining a prescription or verifying the change in prescriptions. However, a comprehensive exam has 3 major components:
- A Visual Acuity Assessment
- An Eye Coordination and Visual Perception Assessment
- An Ocular Health Assessment
Visual Acuity Assessment
This is the visual test commonly associated with an eye exam. Your visual acuity (VA) refers to the clarity of vision, or your ability to recognize details with precision.
Eye Coordination and Visual Perception Assessment
This is a neurological assessment of the eyes, specifically to watch hoEye Coordination and Visual Perception Assessmentw your pupils react, how your eyes move and a test of your peripheral vision.
Ocular Health Assessment
This is to learn the health of the eye – both inside and out. The optometrist will use a microscope to see the retina and optic nerve.
Meet with a Professional
There is so much to learn about your eyes and an optical professional can help you understand more about frames, lenses, and your prescription!
Taking advantage of this expertise could save you hours and ensure you are correctly fitted into a pair of glasses that’s going to work, and you’re going to love.
Let’s find a time to talk – we guarantee you’ll feel taken care of and leave the discussion with the peace of mind you deserve when you’re shopping eyewear.
Last, our own Dr. Patel has 3 pieces of expert advice for you.
1. If you cannot remember the last time you had an eye exam, it’s time for an eye exam.
Don’t put it off – schedule an eye exam today. Even if you believe you have perfect vision, an annual eye exam can be one of the best things you can do to protect your health.
2. Remember: Annual eye exams can detect other serious health problems.
Did you know that many people first discover they have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even cancer from their routine eye exam?
3. Find an eye care practice who will listen to your needs and answer your questions.
Consultations are available for your treatment plan, your prescription and even your next pair of glasses or contacts. We’re here to help.