What Happens During an Eye Exam

As you age, your eyes naturally lose vision ability, and you may need to visit our office for an eye exam. We encourage most patients to begin visits at an early age so that we will be able to become acquainted with their eye history and vision as they grow up. That way it will be easier to determine any discrepancies in vision from past visits or any changes that may occur. Your first eye exam may not include all of the tests we explain below, but any eye examination will include a few of them as we see fit. Continue reading to learn more about what you can expect from a visit to our office. 

When you first show up for your eye exam, we will discuss your medical history with you, including details about your vision. In most cases, your entire eye exam will take about 30-45 minutes. After we talk about your history, we will begin the physical part of the eye examination. There is a variety of tests that we will conduct to determine how healthy your eyes are and how good or bad your vision is.

The first test will determine the alignment of your eyes. You will be asked to look back and forth while we track the movement of your eyes.

Next, we will perform a cover test. This test will determine how in sync your eyes are as they work. You will stare at a target, and each eye will be covered then uncovered. During this time, we will observe how much your eyes move and look for any sign that an eye is avoiding the target. This condition is called strabismus or an “eye squint”.

We will also perform a test on your pupils. During this examination, we will keep a close eye on how your pupils react to light and objects that are very close. We will also take notes on the whites of your eyes and your eyelid movement during this time.

A visual acuity test will take place next during your eye exam. You will know this test by the famous letter chart. You will read the chart as the letters get smaller until you cannot read the letters any longer.

If we think you may need glasses or contacts, we will perform a retinoscopy. This test will help us to correctly judge what type of lens prescription you may need based on how light reflects from your eyes.

We may also use refraction testing. This will help us to determine your exact lens prescription. We will use a machine that flips through different lenses, and you will communicate with us which lenses allow you to see the best.

Like mentioned earlier, not all of these tests will take place. In most cases, it will only be a few of them. The order of the tests we conduct during your eye exam may differ from the order mentioned above since our methods vary based on the needs of each patient. In fact, you may even find yourself undergoing additional testing. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible vision and the steps we take during an eye exam help us to do so.

Eye Doctor  >  LASIK Vision Care

What You Need to Know About LASIK Eye Surgery

When you need eye surgery, you want LASIK eye surgery. LASIK is the most efficient, quick, and simple way to correct your vision. Continue reading to learn more about this high-quality, fast approach to correcting your vision.

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK is an acronym for "laser in-situ keratomileusis." This common surgery is used to correct vision. Anyone who suffers from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or an astigmatism are candidates for LASIK eye surgery.  LASIK, along with other laser vision correction surgeries, work by re-contouring the cornea. The cornea is the clear front layer of your eye. Light traveling through your cornea needs to be correctly focused onto the retina in order to provide correct vision. LASIK makes this happen.

What are the benefits of LASIK eye surgery?

The benefits of LASIK eye surgery are endless. A few benefits include being:

• Successful: LASIK has a 95 percent success rate in meeting the desires of patients. It successfully corrects vision almost every time. Most patients will no longer require glasses or contacts or at least a milder prescription lens.  
• Discomfort-free: Since numbing drops can be used in combination with the already minimally invasive LASIK eye surgery, it is a fairly painless procedure.
• Fast: This procedure does not take long. In the case of most patients, vision corrections can be noticed as soon as surgery is complete and/or by the next day.
• Little recovery time: Patients completely recover from any signs of surgery within a few days. No bandages will need to be worn, and no stitches will be used.
• Easy to add on to: If LASIK does not completely improve your vision, other laser eye surgeries can easily be performed to finish the job.
• Free of most side effects: Patients rarely experience any side effects outside of slight discomfort. Any other side effects are extremely rare. Another side effect is dry eyes directly following the procedure.

How does LASIK eye surgery work?

During your LASIK eye surgery, we will use a precise laser instrument to create a tiny, thin flap in your cornea. We will peel back the cornea in order to gently reshape the layer underneath with another accurate laser. Once we complete the reshaping of your cornea, the flap will be put back into place and will heal on its own. Following the procedure, your cornea will immediately be able to direct light onto the retina correctly. The entire surgery normally takes only 15 minutes at the most. Patients should arrange alternate transportation as you should not attempt to drive yourself home.

Healing will occur quickly. You may be prescribed eye drops to combat dry eyes. These will also help fight any chance of infection or inflammation. Do not use any other drops outside of the ones prescribed or given to you by your doctor. Before you know it, your eyesight will be almost perfect again.

Our LASIK eye surgery is a tried and true method for improving your eyesight. The procedure is very common and extremely safe. You will not regret visiting our office for this short procedure that will greatly benefit your sight for years to come.

Eye Doctor  >  Optometry In Asheville