Comprehensive Eye Exam

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If you’ve had a vision screening recently, you might say, “My vision is fine! I don’t need a comprehensive eye exam.”

But a vision screening provides a limited perspective on the overall health of your eyes. It’s a bit like getting your blood pressure checked and not getting the rest of your annual physical. You’ll have useful information, but it’s not the whole picture.
 

What are the Limitations of a Vision Screening?

Vision screenings only test your ability to see clearly in the distance. This is called visual acuity and is just one factor in your overall vision. Others include color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The screening also doesn’t evaluate how well the eyes focus up close or work together. Most importantly, it doesn’t give any information about the health of the eyes.
 

Vision screenings are conducted by individuals untrained in eye health.

Vision screenings are offered in many places – schools, health fairs, as part of a work physical, or for a driver’s license. Even if your physician conducts the screening, they are a generalist and only have access to a certain amount of eye health training. Most individuals don’t have the tools or knowledge to give you a complete assessment of your vision or eye health.
 

Vision screenings use inadequate testing equipment.

In some cases, a vision screening is limited to an eye chart across the room. Even when conducted in a physician's office, they won’t have the extensive testing equipment we have at Cook & Hayden Vision Care Center. They also won’t be aware of nuances such as room lighting and testing distances, all of which are factors that can affect test results.

What are the Benefits of a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Comprehensive eye exams evaluate all aspects of your vision and eye health.

The comprehensive eye exam looks at your eye externally and internally for any signs of eye disease, then tests your vision in a variety of ways.

• External Exam – This is an evaluation of the whites of your eyes, the iris, pupil, eyelids, and eyelashes.

• Internal Exam – This is an evaluation of the retina and optic nerve while your eyes are dilated.

• Visual Function and Eye Health – This includes testing depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, and the response of the pupils to light, as well as an evaluation of eye focusing, eye teaming, and eye movement abilities.

• Glaucoma Testing – This is a test of fluid pressure within your eyes to check for the possibility of glaucoma.

• Visual Acuity – Cook & Hayden Vision Care Center will test your vision with different lenses to determine if glasses or contact lenses can improve your vision.

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Comprehensive eye exams look at your total health history.

Even though you visit a separate office for your eye health, that doesn’t mean your eyes shouldn’t be treated holistically. Cook & Hayden Vision Care Center will discuss your overall health and that of your immediate family, any medications you’re taking, and whether you have high blood pressure or diabetes. They’ll also want to know if you smoke and how much sun exposure you get. All these factors help Cook & Hayden Vision Care Center properly assess your eye health.

The American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam annually. Cook & Hayden Vision Care Center may recommend more frequent exams based on your individual needs.

iWellness Exam

The iWellness Exam is designed to aid in the diagnosis of vision-threatening disorders EARLIER than they might be observed with standard viewing technology in the typical ocular examination: diseases like Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Diabetes, Hypertension, etc. Sight-threatening eye diseases often have no outward signs or symptoms early in the disease. This advanced technology elevates the level of care we are able to provide by using non-invasive imaging to let us see beneath the surface of your retina, where signs of disease first appear. 

Since your VISION AND OVERALL HEALTH are important to us, we will scan ALL patients.

*If you do not wish to have this evaluation performed, please inform the office staff.