Open Monday through Thursday 8 am to 5 pm and Friday 8 am to 3 pm.
Your eyes help provide insight into your overall health. A comprehensive eye exam goes beyond checking for blurry vision; it evaluates the health of your eyes, detects potential issues, and helps maintain clear, comfortable sight. Knowing what to expect can make the experience smooth and stress-free if it's been a while since your last exam.
Discussing Your Health and Vision History
Your appointment usually begins with a conversation about your medical history, current vision concerns, and any symptoms you may be experiencing. Your eye doctor will ask about headaches, eye strain, or changes in vision, as well as any history of eye diseases in your family. Information about your general health, including conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, can also be relevant since they can affect your eyes.
Checking Your Visual Acuity
A standard part of any eye exam is the visual acuity test. You’ll be asked to read letters on a chart from a distance to measure how clearly you can see. This test helps determine whether you need glasses or contact lenses and, if so, what prescription is right for you.
Refraction Test for Prescription Accuracy
If you need corrective lenses, a refraction test will help determine the best prescription for you. You’ll look through a device called a phoropter while the doctor switches between different lens options, asking which ones make your vision sharper. This process fine-tunes your prescription to match your visual needs.
Examining Eye Movement and Focus
Your eyes work together to provide depth perception and track objects smoothly. A binocular vision test checks how well your eyes coordinate with one another. Your doctor may have you follow a moving object or look at an image through different lenses to see how your eyes adjust and focus. If any imbalances are found, treatments like vision therapy or special lenses may be recommended.
Measuring Eye Pressure
To screen for conditions like glaucoma, your eye doctor will measure the pressure inside your eyes. This may be done using a puff of air or a small device that gently touches the surface of the eye. Elevated blood pressure can indicate potential problems, even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms.
Examining the Front of the Eye
Using a slit lamp, your doctor will get a magnified view of the structures at the front of your eye, including the cornea, iris, and lens. This helps identify conditions like cataracts, dry eye, or scratches on the surface of the eye. The bright light from the slit lamp allows for a detailed look at these important areas.
Checking the Health of the Retina and Optic Nerve
A key part of the exam involves evaluating the back of your eye. The doctor may use dilating drops to widen your pupils, allowing for a clear view of the retina and optic nerve. This step is important for detecting signs of diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment.
Some offices also offer advanced imaging, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), which provides a cross-sectional view of the retina. This technology helps detect early changes that might not be visible with standard examination methods.
Testing Peripheral Vision
Your field of vision includes more than just what’s directly in front of you. A visual field test assesses your peripheral vision, which can be affected by conditions like glaucoma or neurological disorders. You may be asked to press a button whenever you see a small flash of light in different areas of your visual field.
Blurred vision, eye strain, or trouble seeing at night? Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Optometric Associates of Southern Maine. Our team offers personalized care to keep your vision clear and healthy. Prioritize your eyes—book your appointment with us today!
As of May 1, 2023
Masks Are Not Required
Masks Are Optional
We ask if you have any cold-like symptoms, please wear a mask.
While our practice is busy, we’re also growing and accepting new patients! Contact Us Online today or by phone at (207) 284-6651 to schedule your first appointment with us. We look forward to serving you with excellent eye care & eyewear in Biddeford, Maine!
OPEN
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8 am to 5 pm
Wednesday 8 am to 6:30 pm
Friday 8 am to 3 pm.
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