Eye Examinations
Eye examinations at Brainerd Eyecare Center utilize state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment and personalized attention from the doctors and staff. Allow approximately one hour and plan on having your pupils dilated. Your examination will include visual acuity testing, blood pressure measurement, a computerized visual field test, eye muscle coordination testing and visual focusing tests. Your doctor will personally conduct the examination to determine your eyeglass and/or contact lens prescription. The outside of the eye will be examined with a slit lamp microscope and the inside of your eye through a dilated pupil to diagnose diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal degeneration conditions. Among the specialized tests available when indicated are retinal photography, corneal topography and optic nerve and retinal thickness scanning by a laser guided instrument . Your eye health is our utmost concern.
day of the examination
On the day of your examination please bring all insurance information with you as well as your glasses and contact lenses. We will also be asking you to complete a medical and eye history form. If you would like to have these forms completed before your visit, please download them by following the instructions below, and bring the completed forms with you to the scheduled appointment.
importance of an eye examination
Only 1 in 16 children receive an eye examination before they start school and only 60 percent before they graduate. Less than half of adults at risk for vision loss have had an exam through dilated pupils within the last year. Fifty percent of people with glaucoma do not know they have it. Only 60 percent of people with diabetes receive annual dilated eye examinations. If we value our vision so highly and if we can prevent many cases of vision loss, then why are we not getting our preventive eye examinations? Studies show it's not that we don't care, it's that we don't know.
So when should you have an eye examination? A child's first eye examination should between ages 6-12 months. This first exam is known as an InfantSEE exam, which is free of charge. Thereafter, children should be seen at age 3, then before starting school, and lastly every 2 years until age 18. People between 18 and 40 should be seen every 2 years, unless otherwise indicated. Yearly exams after age 40 are recommended. People with diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, age related macular degeneration, frequent prescription changes, or other risk factors may require even more frequent exams.
Ask us when you or your family members should be seen if you have any questions.
www.aoa.org/eye-exams.xml will give you more information regarding eye and vision care.
