Eye Exams and Vision Consultations with an Optometrist
At SPECS, we offer comprehensive eye care services for the whole family, including both routine and preventative eye exams. Both are very important to maintaining good eye health, as many vision problems do not present with obvious symptoms but can still be diagnosed by an experienced, licensed optometrist. By detecting these eye conditions at an early stage, our optometrist can provide detailed treatment plans and in many cases can restore or prevent further degradation and/or vision loss. According to The American Optometric Association, eye and vision exams are recommended yearly or bi-yearly depending on your individual risk factors, and the conditions that may exist in your family, such as glaucoma or diabetes.
During a comprehensive eye exam with our Optometrist on staff, Dr. Christy Byrd, O.D., you will be asked general vision questions about any symptoms or issues you may be currently experiencing, such as:
- any current medications you may be taking,
- whether you have experienced any blurry vision,
- your work environment,
- and your overall health.
Your family’s medical history and existence of previous eye or vision conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and prevalence of diabetes will also be discussed during this part of the examination.Our optometrist will take all of this vision information into account when determining your personalized plan for any vision treatments or procedures.
Vision Testing to Maintain Good Eye Health
Maintaining a regular and consistent schedule for vision testing and eye health evaluations ensure that you always have the clearest vision possible and that eye conditions are detected and monitored at early stages where intervention can be most effective. Our Durham optometrist, Dr. Byrd provides regular vision acuity tests as part of SPECS’ comprehensive eye exam routine. Traditional eye exams can measure how each eye is seeing by utilizing a wall eye chart and a hand-held reading eye chart. The results of these vision tests are expressed as a fraction with “20/20” being the general vision standard for normal distance and reading vision. As the second number gets higher, “20/100” for example, it means that you need to be placed at a 20-ft depth to accurately read text that a person with “20/20” vision could accurately read at 100 feet. Depending on the results of your eye exam / vision test, Our optometrist may prescribe corrective prescription glasses, contact lenses, or physical eye exercises to help improve your vision.
Eye Function Testing to Detect Eye Conditions and Diseases
In addition to eye exams / vision testing, an eye exam in our Durham, NC office behind Southpoint Mall includes testing your overall eye functionality. Our optometrist routinely performs several vision tests to determine your depth perception, color vision interpretation, eye muscle capabilities, peripheral vision, and responsiveness to light. In addition, other tests are administered to assess whether your eyes are are focusing, moving, and working together as a “team” properly. These vision tests enable our doctors to diagnose potential underlying ocular conditions that may be impairing your visual ability to focus and see the world clearly.
Eye Health at our Durham NC Office
As part of our comprehensive eye exam routine, our optometrist examines the overall health of the eye through a visual examination and tonometry.
What is Tonometry? aka the Dreaded “Eye Puff” Test
Eye Exams in Durham NC
Tonometry is the prodecure used to measure the internal pressure inside of your eyes, which is also referred to as the “intraocular eye pressure”, or IOP. Measuring the internal eye pressure of each eye is an important part of a comprehensive eye examination performed by an optometrist. If your eye pressure is recorded to be too high above normal, there may be an increased risk for developing eye diseases such as glaucoma. High eye pressure can also damage the delicate nerve fibers in the back of your eye, would could pootentially result in loss of vision.
A tonometer is an instrument that determines the intraocular pressure of your eyes by measuring the resistance of your cornea to indentation. Your eye doctor may use one of several methods to measure the pressure inside your eyes, one of which is the “Eye Puff” Test in which a puff of air is administered and the pressure recorded by the machine. Thankfully, most of our patients say it is over before they even know the air puff has been administered.
Other Vision Tests
Our optometrist evaluates your eye health by visually inspecting the eye and eyelids using magnification and a bright light to detect any abnormalities. In order to thoroughly examine the internal structures of the eye, the pupils may be dilated with the help of eye drops. After your eye exam is completed using these comprehensive eye tests, our optometrist reviews the results and can discuss possible treatment options with you to improve your vision and comfort.