Eye Examination

Your vision shapes your experience of the world. It is why eye exams are so important – they monitor your vision and eye health. We provide full scope medical eye exams using the latest technology to give you the very best eye care.

What to expect at your eye exam?

Our eye exams take 45-90 minutes depending on whether the doctor will need to carry out any extra tests. We tailor every eye exam to the individual, helping you to feel completely at ease. However, there is a set routine we follow.

Each visit will include a full intake history, vision check with glasses prescription, contact fitting if desired, and a full medical exam to detect any early eye disease that may be present without showing symptoms.

Using an Optos Daytona retinal camera, your eye doctor will take photographs of the retina (the back of your eye) to look for the earliest signs of disease or damage. These photographs will be saved to your record, so they can be compared to any photographs taken at your next visit. These photos cover the entire retina, and may be used in lieu of eye dilation if all findings are normal.

Other tests we may carry out include:

• binocular assessment – this checks how well your eyes work together
• peripheral visual field analysis – this checks your side vision
• intraocular pressure measurement – this checks the pressure in your eye, which rises if you have glaucoma

Dr. Marvin will always explain the results of your tests and there will be time for you to ask questions. She may recommend certain treatments to improve your vision. These recommendations will vary depending on your lifestyle, work, hobbies, and leisure activities.

How often should you have an eye examination?

This depends on your age. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that most adults currently have an eye examination every one to two years. Most vision insurance plans cover a complete eye examination every one to two years. Children have a vision screening when they are newborns, 6–12 months, 12–36 months, and 3–5 years^*1.

From age 5 upwards, your child’s vision and eye alignment should be checked by an eye doctor every 1–2 years. If your child has a vision problem or needs vision correction, they should have an eye examination every year.

For healthy adults with good vision, the AAO recommends having an eye exam once in your 20s and then twice in your 30s^*2. However, you’ll need to have eye exams more often if you have diabetes, wear contact lenses, or have a family history of eye disease.

You should also see an eye doctor if you have injured your eye, have an eye infection or eye pain, or have noticed a sudden change in your vision e.g. a sudden drop in vision, floaters, flashes, or patterns of light.

Your next eye exam should be at the age of 40. Depending on your results, your eye doctor will recommend how often you should have eye examinations after this.

From the age of 65, you should have your eyes checked every 1–2 years.

*1 American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/children-eye-screening

*2 American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101