Eye Examinations and Services
Initial/Routine Eye Examinations
Routine eye examinations are performed on both adults and children with the intent of confirming or excluding any vision problems or eye disorders and diseases which may be present. During these examinations the patient has both their distance and near vision examined, binocular vision assessed, intra-ocular pressure measured to check for glaucoma (using the latest Topcon Non-Contact Tonometer – without the need for eye drops to be used), as well as internal and external eye examination (using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy) to locate any signs of cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease or the like. Even though classified a routine eye examination, this examination is a comprehensive eye examination utilized to identify an array of ocular disorders.
Dilated Eye Examinations – Diabetes, Cataract, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma…
An extension of the Initial Eye Examination, a dilated fundus examination (DFE) involves instilling eye drops into the eye to enlarge the eye’s pupil. Enlarging the pupil allows the optometrist an uninterrupted view of the various internal eye structures.
Such a procedure allows the optometrist to more thoroughly assess the eye for disorders and diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal tear/detachment, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other conditions that may result in loss of vision.
Visual Field Examinations
A VFA is a non-invasive computerized examination used to locate any deficiencies/blind-spots in the central, para-central and peripheral/side vision of the eye. Such a procedure allows the optometrist to check and monitor eye conditions such as glaucoma, optic nerve disease, stroke, defects involving the visual pathway to the brain, retinal detachment and many other conditions which may result in vision loss.
Cycloplegic Refraction Examination
A cycloplegic refraction (CR) is the procedure used to determine a patient’s true/accurate spectacle prescription by temporarily relaxing the eye muscles that aid in focusing, using dilating drops. This examination will generally be recommended to you by your optometrist when the initial examination finds unreliable/unusual vision results, questioning reliability/accuracy of the patient’s visual status. Typically younger patients benefit from this procedure.
Contact Lens Examinations
Contact lens examinations are performed on both adults and children to identify ones suitability to wear spectacles and to determine the right choice to both maximize your vision and afford great comfort. Specialized contact lens examinations are provided by the optometrist to meet these needs and a wide variety of contact lens types are available. See the contact lens link on this website for more contact lens related information.
Low Vision Assessments
Low vision assessments are performed on those patients who suffer a lower than usual level of vision caused by various eye conditions such as macular degeneration, optic nerve disorders, glaucoma to name a few. For people with low vision, some of the day to day requirements such as reading and TV vision become difficult or not possible and strengthening the power of spectacles unfortunately does not improve the overall level of vision. For these cases, there are a range of Low Vision Aids available which are used to help improve the patient’s vision where conventional spectacles no longer can. The optometrist uses a variety of high quality low vision aids such as illuminated reading magnifiers (for reading mail, newspapers, magazines, bank statements), chest magnifiers (for hand held crafts), TV magnifying spectacles & screens to name but a few.
Referrals to Ophthalmologists & GPs
Eye examinations at times uncover findings which require on-referral to other health professionals such as ophthalmologists (eye specialists) and general practitioners for specialist care/treatment. Referrals to these other health professionals are provided at this practice, following an examination/consultation with the optometrist.
