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Comprehensive Eye Exam
for Patients in Tyler, Athens, Longview, TX & All of East Texas

To maintain good vision and to keep your eyes healthy, it is important to have routine comprehensive eye exams. Those with stable vision without any eye disease, having a routine eye exam every two years is important. Your eyes will be dilated at this exam so our adult and pediatric ophthalmologists can see into your retina checking and screening for eye diseases or disorders. If further testing is required, a more comprehensive eye exam and possibly more testing will be scheduled.

If you experience any changes in your vision between regularly scheduled visits with our certified opticians, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment can be the key to preventing loss of vision. In the event we detect any abnormalities, our offices in Tyler, Athens, and Longview, TX are well equipped with state-of-the-art technology and techniques to perform various astigmatism treatments and other innovative services. From performing glaucoma and EVO ICL™ surgery to installing cataract lenses, we are here to help correct your vision.

Preparing for Your Eye Exam

When you call to make an eye appointment, please be prepared to describe any current vision problems. And feel free to ask questions like, will the eye examination affect my vision temporarily or will I need someone to drive me home? You may also want to ask if your insurance plan will cover any of the cost of the exam and how payment is handled.

Before going to the appointment, please gather the following information to help answer questions the eye care professional may ask

Symptoms of current eye problems (flashes of light, difficulty seeing at night, temporary double vision, loss of vision, etc.).
Eye injuries or eye surgeries (approximate dates, where treated).
A family history of eye problems, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, etc.
Any questions about your vision, glasses, contacts, laser surgery, etc.
A list of all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs currently being used.
Your general health condition (allergies, chronic health problems, operations, etc.).

Patients should also take the following items with them to their eye appointment

Glasses, contact lenses or both.
A list of all prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs currently being taken.
Medical or health insurance card.

Signs That You May Need an Eye Exam

Adults

Arms are suddenly “too short,” i.e., need to hold the newspaper or other reading material far away.
Unusual difficulty adjusting to dark rooms.
Difficulty focusing on close or distant objects.
Unusual sensitivity to light or glare.
Change in the color of the iris.
Red-rimmed, encrusted, or swollen lids.
Recurrent pain in or around the eyes.
Double vision.
The dark spot at the center of their vision.
Lines and straight edges appear wavy or distorted.
Excess tearing or “watery eyes.”
Dry eyes with itching or burning.
Seeing spots or ghost-like images.

Children

Holding a book too close to their eyes.
Difficulty reading the blackboard in school.
Complaints of blurry eyesight.
Squinting a lot.
Closing or covering one eye in order to see.

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If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above schedule an appointment.

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The following symptoms are indications of serious medical problems that require immediate attention

Sudden loss of vision in one eye.
Sudden hazy or blurred vision.
Flashes of light or black spots in the field of vision.
Halos or rainbows around lights.
Curtain-like blotting out of vision.
Loss of peripheral (side) vision.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call our office immediately.

Your Routine Eye Exam

Visual acuity tests measure the smallest object each eye can see at a certain distance. Usually, each eye will be done individually by covering one eye at a time. It may be necessary to tape a patch over a child’s eye to keep the child from peeking. The Snellen chart is the most common way to test visual acuity. This chart contains letters and numbers that decrease in size. When taking the test, the distance between the patient and the chart is 20 feet.

Normal vision for the average person is 20/20. A person with 20/40 vision will see at twenty feet what a normal eye sees at forty feet. A person with 20/200 vision is legally blind. This person can only see at twenty feet what a normal eye sees at two hundred feet. A person with 20/15 vision has better than normal eyesight. They see at twenty feet what the normal eye would have to bring in to fifteen feet to see.

Children who do not know letters and numbers are tested with the Tumbling E chart. The child will point in the same direction as the E is on the chart during the administration of the test. Children younger than four may have trouble with this test. So, several different tests can be used to obtain an accurate visual acuity for children.

Comprehensive Eye Exams

Comprehensive eye exams for adults include the following

Review of family and personal health history.
Examination of the interior and exterior of the eye for signs of eye disease or general health problems such as diabetes or hardening of the arteries.
Eye pressure and field of vision tests to diagnose glaucoma.
Tests of ability to see sharply and clearly at both close and far distances.
Tests to determine the presence of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, depth perception problems, and in people over age 40, presbyopia.
Check of eye coordination and eye muscle function to make sure the eyes are working together as a team.
Test of ability to change focus easily from near to far, and vice versa.

Additional tests for young children include

Check for indications of crossed eyes.
Check to ensure the child is using both eyes.
Tests to check eye-hand-foot coordination.
Tests to determine how well the child’s vision skills are developing.
Tests to determine normal color vision.

Refraction

Refraction is part of a routine eye examination. This test tells the doctor if you need glasses or contacts and exactly what prescription is needed. The test is performed by having the patient look through a device, a phoropter or refractor, and focus on an eye chart 20 feet away, which determines the prescription that allows the patient to see clearly.

Your visit to Heaton Eye Associates will include a discussion of the exam’s findings and any treatment prescribed.

Comprehensive Vision Care