COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMS IN MENTOR

Learn more about what problems can be spotted with an eye exam, what’s involved in a comprehensive exam, and special considerations for kids and contacts.

No matter whom you are or what your age is, a complete eye exam will go a long way towards ensuring that your sight remains clear and healthy. A thorough eye and vision evaluation can be performed by your eye doctor at Family EyeCare Clinic in Mentor. If you haven’t been to the optometrist in more than a year, it’s time to book a consultation for an eye exam.

How often do I need an eye exam?

Our eye doctor in Mentor, Ohio, will check your vision thoroughly to provide you with an accurate prescription. If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, your visual acuity will be assessed both with and without your corrective lenses.

You’ll be asked to read from a basic eye chart of numbers and letters, which tests your eyesight at various distances. The normal measurement for eyes with no refractive error is 20/20. We’ll also use a phoropter to check carefully for astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. This procedure involves having you look through a series of lenses, and you’ll need to give feedback on which ones give the clearest vision. With the aid of a retinoscope, we’ll measure how light focuses on your retina with each of the different lenses.

Altogether, these tests will provide us with the information necessary to issue you a highly accurate vision prescription. All that’s left for you to do is choose a pair of attractive frames from our eyewear collection or purchase from our selection of premium contact lenses, and you’ll see and look sharp in no time!

Importance of routine eye examinations

Another thing to ponder is the fact that the eye may be predisposed to certain problems, similar to other parts of the body. Most people have heard of the most familiar disorders of the eye, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Since these ailments usually display no signs or symptoms in their early stages, it’s vital that you depend upon preventive health care to avoid many common eye diseases. This is best accomplished by having regular eye examinations.

Our Mentor eye doctor will have the ability to look for diseases like glaucoma, to ensure that you can take suitable steps to treat the disease before it progresses. Even though these diseases are more prevalent in elderly individuals, it is vital to note that eye disease can also occur at an earlier age.

Vision testing vs. complete eye testing

It’s important to differentiate between a basic vision screening and an in-depth eye exam. A lot of people trust that by having a registered nurse or primary care doctor conduct a vision screening, that this is sufficient. However, vision screening may only include reading letters off a chart at various distances. There are many more evaluations and checks that must be performed to inspect for other diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, Dry Eye Syndrome or Computer Vision. Only comprehensive eye examinations done on a consistent schedule can ensure that your eyes are being kept safe!

Eye Exam Q&A

Scheduling an eye exam? Here are some questions to help you prepare for your appointment.

Visiting Your Eye Care Professional

Whether you or a loved ones are having their first eye exam, a repeat eye exam, or are seeing a new eye doctor for the first time, there are a number of routine questions you can expect. But your answers to these questions during eye exams are anything but routine for your eye doctor.

That’s because there are any number of factors in your medical history that can contribute to current or potential vision problems. Understanding your lifestyle and any visual problems you’re experiencing helps point your eye exam in the right direction. There are also certain medical conditions, medications and circumstances that can put you or your family member at a higher risk for certain eye diseases.

What to Ask Your Optometrist?

We think it’s essential for you to get the most out of your eye exams. That’s why we’ve included a range of questions for you to ask prior or during your next appointment.

Questions to ask before your eye exam

  • Do you accept my insurance plan’s vision coverage?
  • Is payment required at the time of service?
  • What will my eye exam entail?
  • How long should I expect to be there?
  • Will my pupils be dilated?
  • What should I bring with me?

Questions to ask during your eye exam

  • Given my age, eye condition and other risk factors, how often should I have my eyes examined?
  • At what age should I start to schedule my children for regular eye exams?
  • What lens designs and options are a good fit for me?
  • Can my glasses block UV rays?
  • Do all sunglasses protect my eyes from UV rays?
  • What are photochromic lenses and are they a good option for me?

Things To Remember

It’s always a good idea to bring any of the following (if available) to your eye exam appointment:

Your insurance card/insurance information

A list of all medications, vitamins and other supplements you are taking

  • Prescription glasses you currently own
  • A copy of your latest eyeglass prescription
  • Information on frames you like or lenses you’ve researched
  • Don’t forget, if participating in a flexible spending account program, you may be able to use the account to pay for portions of your eye care not covered directly by your insurance plan. Ask our receptionist for details.

Pediatric Eye Exams In Mentor

Accurate and healthy vision is crucial for a child’s physical development, success in academic endeavours and overall well-being.

When do kids need pediatric eye exams?

Some experts estimate that approximately 5% to 10% of preschoolers and 25% of school-aged children have vision problems. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), all children should have their eyes examined at 6 months of age, at age 3 and again at the start of school. Children without vision problems or risk factors should then continue to have their eyes examined at least every two years throughout school.

Children with existing vision problems or risk factors should have their eyes examined more frequently. Common risk factors for vision problems include:

  • premature birth
  • developmental delays
  • turned or crossed eyes
  • the family history of eye disease
  • history of eye injury
  • other physical illness or disease

The AOA recommends that children who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses should have their eyes examined at least every 12 months or according to their eye doctor’s instructions. Consult with our Mentor eye doctors for personalized recommendations about when your child needs an eye exam.

How Often Should a Child Have an Eye Exam?

  • Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age.
  • Following that, they should have their eyes examined at age 3 and at around age 5.
  • For school-aged children who don’t require correction, an eye exam every two years is recommended. Children wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, however, should be examined annually or as recommended by your optometrist.

Vision and School Success | Family EyeCare Clinic

As much as 80 % of what a child learns in school is acquired through vision. If vision problems go undetected, many children may be misdiagnosed with “learning difficulties” or “ADHD”, as is already the case in much of the world.

In fact, 1/10 children have an issue with their visual skills that obstructs their ability to succeed in school and sports. The repeated failures and struggles can negatively impact their self esteem and confidence levels.

Don’t wait until your child is already in school and struggling to read, see the board, or play sports.

At Family EyeCare Clinic, we have the clinical knowledge and expertise to identify vision issues early on and intervene before the problems affect different areas of your children’s lives.

School Vision Screenings vs. Comprehensive Eye Exams for Children

Typically, pediatric or school vision screenings check your child’s eyes for basic aberrations or abnormalities. But to ensure good vision and proper eye health development, your child should have a comprehensive eye exam by a pediatric optometrist.

Comprehensive eye evaluations are crucial for revealing potential vision problems which can interfere with kids’ learning development. The exam includes tests for binocularity, refractive error, color vision, vision acuity, and overall eye health

What is Assessed During a Pediatric Eye Exam?

The pediatric eye exam evaluates the following:

  • Eye Focusing
  • Depth Perception
  • Color Perception
  • Eye Tracking
  • Eye Muscle Teaming
  • Peripheral Awareness
  • Near Visual Acuity
  • Distance Visual Acuity

Glasses for Kids

Should your child need glasses for vision correction, Family EyeCare Clinic has a wide variety of age-appropriate and safe options. Because we specialize in eye care for young patients, we’re well acquainted with their preferred styles, shapes, and colors. We carry a large range of frames for children, inspired by adult trends but with a fun and imaginative approach and a pediatric fit in mind.

All of our frames are comfortable, durable, and made with kid-friendly materials. Young children find the bright colored frames they love, while teens find the latest fashion trends scaled down to fit their faces.

Do your kids play sports? Athletic eyewear for children can help protect their eyes from sports injuries.

At Family EyeCare Clinic, we have eyewear for every child and teen, no matter their features or preferences.

Contact Lenses for Teens

Have your child experience the freedom of contact lenses.

For children who dislike how they look in glasses, contact lenses could be the confidence booster they need.

Contact lenses enhance the natural color of the eye, for a more vibrant look. Your child will feel more confident and ready to take on the world!

They’ll also enjoy having the freedom of not worrying about losing or breaking glasses, and may participate in activities that they weren’t able to before.

Give your child the gift of clear and comfortable vision, and schedule their contact lens fitting with Family EyeCare Clinic today!

Your Child Deserves the Best Eye Care

Family EyeCare Clinic pediatric optometry division is a source of pride for our practice. Our experienced team works diligently to ensure that infants, children and teens have the ability to see, perceive and experience the world to their highest potential.

Make pediatric eye exams a priority. Visit Family EyeCare Clinic for a routine comprehensive pediatric eye exam, or come to us with your concerns regarding your infant or toddler’s vision, and we’ll make sure to find the optimal solution for his or her visual problems. Let us bring great eye health and vision care to you and your family for many years to come.

Family EyeCare Clinic is dedicated to ensuring excellent vision and serves patients from in and around Mentor.