Eye Exams
Adult Eye Exams
Adults should have a comprehensive eye examination annually. Beyond updating a prescription, it screens for glaucoma, retinal disease and the systemic conditions that show at the back of the eye before other symptoms appear.
The most common reason adults delay an eye exam is that their vision seems fine. It is also the least reliable reason, because the conditions that cause irreversible vision loss are almost all silent in their early stages.
Glaucoma takes peripheral vision so gradually that the brain compensates. Diabetic retinopathy causes no symptoms until it is advanced. Early macular changes are invisible to the person who has them. All three are detectable years before they affect vision, and all three are managed far better when caught early.
Vision needs change through adult life too. The mid forties bring presbyopia, screen work makes different demands than paper did, and prescriptions drift. An annual exam catches all of it.
What is included
- Full refraction and prescription update
- Binocular vision and focusing assessment
- Glaucoma screening
- Optomap retinal imaging
- Slit lamp examination
- Systemic health assessment from retinal findings
- Doctor recommendation and follow up plan
Questions and answers
My vision has not changed. Do I still need an exam?
Yes, and that is exactly when eye health screening has most value, because you are checking for the conditions that develop without symptoms.
What can an eye exam detect about my general health?
Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, autoimmune conditions and certain cancers all leave signs visible in the retina and its blood vessels. Eye exams identify undiagnosed systemic disease with some regularity.
Is an eye exam covered by insurance?
Most vision plans cover an annual comprehensive examination. Medical eye care is often covered under medical rather than vision insurance. The office verifies both before your visit.
What if I only need reading glasses?
You still need the eye health examination. Presbyopia is a focusing change, and it says nothing about the health of your retina or optic nerve.
Talk to someone about adult eye exams
Appointments are scheduled two per hour, so there is time to answer questions properly. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.