Eye Exams Specialist

Why are eye exams important?

You may think of eye exams as a necessary step to update your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, eye exams are about more than just corrective lens prescriptions, and they should be a part of your health routine even if you don’t have vision problems. They’re the best way to detect eye diseases in their early stages before they damage your eyes.

Eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy rarely cause noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Often, by the time they affect your vision, they’ve already caused serious, permanent vision damage. The best way to protect your eye health and vision is to get screened for these diseases at a comprehensive eye exam.

Dr. Yu recommends an exam schedule based on your age and eye health risk factors. Conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes increase your risk of eye disease, and certain eye conditions become much more common as you get older, including cataracts and macular degeneration.

What happens during a comprehensive eye exam?

During your comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Yu performs a series of tests to check your vision and eye health.

Dr. Yu measures your visual acuity, or sharpness, by having you read letters off a chart, both from a distance and up close. She also performs refraction, where you look at lenses of different strengths to determine if you have any vision difficulties and what level of corrective lens prescription you need.

Dr. Yu also tests:

• How well your eyes work together
• Your peripheral (side) vision
• Your depth perception

Unlike many optometrists, Dr. Yu can see the macular nerve within your eye without needing to use eye drops to dilate your pupils. She only uses dilation in very rare cases with high-risk patients.  

Depending on the results of your eye exam, Dr. Yu may recommend glasses, contact lenses (including specialty contacts), or further treatment at Neovision Optometry. As needed, Dr. Yu provides referrals to specialists, including ophthalmologists.

How do I prepare for an eye exam?

Eye exams don’t require extensive preparation. However, to help Dr. Yu get the most accurate possible understanding of your eye health and get you the care you need, it helps to have your current prescription, and information about your eye health and overall health readily available.

Important information includes:  

• Any current or past eye or vision problems
• Your family’s eye health history
• Any current or past medical conditions
• Medical conditions that run in your family
• A list of medications you take
  

If you do need to have your pupils dilated, they usually remain enlarged for a few hours after your exam. Your vision may be too blurry to read or do work, and you may be more sensitive to light than usual. Bring sunglasses to wear after your exam, and arrange for a ride home if you don’t think you’ll feel comfortable driving. As Dr. Yu rarely needs to perform dilation, you can avoid these problems at Neovision Optometry, so schedule your next eye exam today online or over the phone.