Comprehensive Eye Exams

A comprehensive eye exam takes into consideration your total health and how it impacts the health of your eyes. You will be asked to fill out forms that allow us to review your medical and family history. It is important for us to know the status of your health because many systemic diseases have associated eye problems. Also, it is important for you to tell us about any medications that you use including over the counter medications because many medications affect the eye. Additionally, it is important for us to learn something about your life style. Our goal is to individualize your prescriptions (glasses and contacts) and therapy based on your specific needs.

What to expect at your eye exam:

Your doctor will most often dilate the pupils of your eyes, in order to better see the retina at the back of your eye. You may want to consider making transportation arrangements, as your vision may be blurry for a few hours after dilating.

Your exam may include a:

• visual acuity or refraction test to determine the degree to which you may be nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism.
• muscle function test to check the movement of your eyes in each direction and at specified angles. This test will identify any muscle weakness or involuntary eye movement.
• binocular vision skills assessment to ensure that your eyes work together properly as a team. This is important for proper depth perception, eye muscle coordination and the ability to change focus from near to far objects.
• visual field test to measure your peripheral vision, the width of the area you can see when you're looking straight ahead. This test may also detect diseases of the eyes or neurological disorders.
• eye pressure test. Your doctor may administer one or more tests to evaluate your intra-ocular pressure. High intra-ocular pressure may be a sign of glaucoma.
• color vision screening to see if you perceive colors properly.
• eye health assessment using an slit lamp microscope. This tool allows the doctor to evaluate your pupil responses, optic nerve, retina, cornea and lens.

Digby Eye Associates also now offers the Optomap® Retinal Exam. The Optomap® retinal image gives eye-care professionals a much larger view (200 degrees) of the back of the eye - your retina - than conventional eye exam equipment. The images can be taken without dilating your pupils.

The Optomap® image is captured in less than a second and is immediately available for doctor and patient to review. The Optomap® Retinal Exam offers many clinical, practice and patient benefits.

The Optomap® image is displayed immediately after being taken, allowing the eye care professional to review it quickly and if necessary, refer you to a retinal specialist. Using the internet, the image can be sent anywhere in the world for a specialist to review.

Each Optomap® image is as individual as fingerprints or DNA and can provide eye care professionals with a unique view of your health very quickly and comfortably. The Optomap® image is captured in less than one second and is immediately available for you and your doctor to review.

The Optomap® retinal image offers many advantages including:

• An ultra-wide field view of the retina
• Comfortable and quick image capture
• Non-invasive
• Helps you understand your eye health
• Provides permanent records for future comparison
• The Optomap® technology does not require pupil dilation, however the decision to dilate or not is a medical decision to be made by your health care professional
• Patient can resume normal activities immediately

Treatment options, if necessary will be presented at the conclusion of your examination.

To schedule a comprehensive eye exam, you can call our office at 336-230-1010 or schedule an exam.

Comprehensive Exam Frequently Asked Questions

What Tests Are Performed?

On all patients we measure visual acuity; determine your eyeglass prescription at distance and near; evaluate your eye muscle coordination; assess the front of the eye with a microscope; perform a glaucoma test (no un-comfortable puff of air here); and dilate the eyes to properly evaluate the retina. Patients often ask if it is really necessary to dilate the eyes. To properly assess the retina (the back of the eye), we prefer to dilate in order to provide the best possible exam. Looking at the retina through an un-dilated eye is like looking through the keyhole of your closet to see what is inside. Obviously, its easier and better if you open the door, put your head in and look around. That's what the drops and the instrumentation that we use allow us to do.

Why Should I Get My Glasses From Your Office?

We pride ourselves in providing the best care. We also pride ourselves in providing the highest quality ophthalmic lenses such as Physio, Hi-Index, Polycarbonate, Essilor, etc. We also provide high quality ophthalmic frames from designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace, BeBe, Ted Baker, Silhouette, and many more. Our passion for excellence begins with a knowledgeable and caring staff. We are constantly in pursuit of the newest and improved products to better serve the needs of our patients. Proper glasses require style, proper fit and design, high quality optics, accurate measurement and fabrication. Our opticians provide all these skills plus the personal touch of continuity of care so that you are never caught in the middle between the doctor and the optician if there is any problem with your new glasses. For example, in some patients the prescription is correct but the patient can't adapt to change. If this is your plight, we will change the prescription at no charge. It is our responsibility to make you happy.

Can I Take My Glasses Prescription and Get Contact Lenses?

No. An eye-glass prescription, though related to a contact lens prescription, is entirely different. Contact lenses need to be properly fitted to ensure good vision and health of the cornea.

I Have 20/20 Doesn't That Mean My Eyes Are Ok?

No. Just because you have 20/20 vision, it doesn't mean that you don't need glasses or possible treatment for a silent disease. Only a comprehensive eye examination will determine if your eyes are healthy and working properly.

What is 20/20 Vision?

20/20 vision means that you see at 20 feet what the average person sees at 20 feet. 20/200 means that you see at 20 feet what the average person sees at 200 feet. Many young patients have better than 20/20, e.g., 20/15. Only a few people have 20/10.