COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE
What is Comprehensive Eye Care?
At Colorado Cataract Laser & Vision, we offer the best comprehensive eye care in Colorado.
Approximately half of blindness is preventable. Having annual eye exams is crucial in protecting, and preventing your eyes against blindness. While younger patients who have healthy vision only require eye exams once or twice a decade, older patients should really plan on having an exam every two to three years with healthy eyes. For those with a history of eye health problems, you may be recommended visits more frequently to monitor your vision.
Consider requesting an appointment if you have:
- A Family history of eye disease.
- Previous eye injury.
- Diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Have not had an examination in over 2 years.
Are you due for an eye exam? Contact us today to setup an appointment!
Eye Exam
To ensure you are maintaining decent vision, and have healthy eyes, it is important to have routine eye exams, especially as you get older. Consult your eye care professional regarding the consistency of eye exams that you should maintain.
Having regular eye exams can help to diagnose eye conditions you may have, and to capitalize on finding out about it early. In children, amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eye) can be diagnosed and treated in early childhood and can help in avoiding life-long vision impairment.
What’s the difference between routine and medical eye examinations?
Routine Eye Examination
A routine eye examination occurs when an examination takes places without any medical eye problem. When you come in for a yearly, or bi-yearly eye examination is considered the routine eye exam. The doctors at Colorado Cataract & Laser will screen your eyes to make sure you do not have any medical conditions. These examination let the doctor know the health of your eye, and to update lens prescriptions.
Medical Eye Examination
Your visit will be considered as a medical eye examination if you are being evaluated or treated for a condition or symptom you bring up to our doctors. Examples of medical eye examinations include: dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and allergies among others.
Common Eye Conditions
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Astigmatism
Presbyopia
Besides glasses, presbyopia can be dealt with in a number of ways. Options include: monovision and multifocal contact lenses, monovision laser vision correction, and new presbyopia correcting implant lenses.
Eye Exams 101
Are You EyeSmart?
Getting an eye exam is an important part of staying healthy. But do you know when you should get an eye exam and what the exam should cover? Be EyeSmart! Read up on the basics to get the right exam at the right time and ensure your vision lasts a lifetime.
When Should You Have an Eye Exam?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that you get a baseline eye examination at age 40, the time when early signs of disease or changes in vision may occur. Much like a screening for diabetes or certain cancers, a baseline eye exam at 40 is a reminder to adults as they age to be aware of their eye health. A baseline screening can help identify signs of eye disease at an early stage when many treatments can have the greatest impact on preserving vision.
Some people shouldn’t wait until they are 40 to have a comprehensive eye exam. If you have an eye disease or if you have a risk factor for developing one, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of eye disease, you should see an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) even if you are younger than 40.
Upon examining your eyes, your Eye M.D. can tell you how often you should undergo an eye exam. As you age, it’s especially important that you have your eyes checked regularly because your risk for eye disease increases. If you are 65 or older, make sure you have your eyes checked every year or two for signs of age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Your Eye M.D. may suggest additional testing to further examine your eye using specialized imaging techniques such as OCT, topography or fundus photos. These tests can be crucial in diagnosing a disease in its early stages and allow your doctor to detect abnormalities in the back of the eye, on the eye’s surface or inside the eye.
Each part of the comprehensive eye exam provides important information about the health of your eyes. Make sure that you are getting a complete examination as part of your commitment to your overall health.
What Should Be Checked in an Eye Exam?
A comprehensive eye exam is relatively simple and comfortable and shouldn’t take more than 45 to 90 minutes. The exam should include checks on the following:
Your medical history
Your visual acuity
Your pupils
Your side vision
Your eye movement
Your prescription for corrective lenses
Your eye pressure
The front part of your eye
Your retina and optic nerve
*Eye M.D. content courtesy of eyeSmart (http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/eye-exams-101.cfm).