Eye Exams Specialist

Why do I need to get regular eye exams?

You might not think of going to an eye doctor if you don’t wear eyeglasses or haven’t experienced any changes in your vision. But eye exams involve more than just prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses. They’re also the best way to detect issues with your eye health as early as possible.

An eye exam is the best way to determine if you have serious conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy. There’s usually no way to detect these diseases in their early stages. Often, your eye health is a sign of your overall health, and conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) can put you at higher risk of developing eye conditions.

In many cases, by the time eye diseases cause noticeable symptoms they’ve already damaged your vision, often permanently. An eye exam detects these problems early, while they’re still easily manageable and treatable.

What happens during an eye exam?

Eye exams include a series of tests to evaluate your vision and eye health. They usually last at least an hour. Your exam at Gold Canyon Eye Center may include:

• Eye muscle test

• Visual acuity test

• Vision test/ refraction 

• Pupil dilation

• Eye health evaluation

If you have diabetes, your doctor evaluates you for eye complications, including diabetic retinopathy.  

Gold Canyon Eye Center is experienced in diagnosing and treating eye conditions that affect children. Comprehensive pediatric eye exams at the practice include testing for lazy eye, strabismus, and focusing issues. The team includes Trina Cheng, OD, a pediatric optometrist who’s qualified to examine children as young as 6 months of age.

Depending on the results of your eye exam, your doctor may recommend glasses, contact lenses (including specialty contacts such as scleral lenses), or further treatment, which may include referrals to ophthalmologists and other specialists.

How do I prepare for an eye exam?

To help your eye doctor at Gold Canyon Eye Center perform the most accurate exam possible, it helps to have some information handy for your exam, including:

• Any current or past eye problems

• Your family’s history of eye disease

• Any medical conditions you have

• A list of medications you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, or supplements you take regularly

Expect your pupils to be enlarged for a few hours after your exam. You may have trouble reading because the text appears blurry and you may be more sensitive to light than usual. Be sure to bring sunglasses to wear outside, and arrange for a ride home if you aren’t comfortable driving.

Regular eye exams should be part of every health routine. If you’re overdue, schedule an exam at Gold Canyon Eye Center online or by phone today.