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“Quality Eye Care for Four Generations!” 461 West Street, Keene NH 03431 Phone: (603) 357-2990 Fax: 357-4481 |
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The Refractive Eye Exam |
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What to expect during your eye exam: At Dr. Dexter’s Vision Center our doctors will examine your eyes to determine their health, and what kind of vision correction you need. He or she will use instruments and tools such as: 1. A Refractor - to determine your prescription 2. A Slit lamp - to look into the back of the eye for retinal problems 3. A Tonometer - to determine intraocular pressure ( if it's high, this may be an early sign of glaucoma). 4. Optomap Images or Dilation Drops - to check the health of the retina The most common eye condition is refractive error (the need to correct the vision of the eye with glasses). The three most common refractive errors: 1. Myopia (nearsightedness) - which affects an estimated 25% of the population 2. Hyperopia (farsightedness) - a common early childhood ailment 3. Astigmatism (an uneven curvature of the cornea that causes a distortion in vision) - which affects an estimated 53-63% of the population. A fourth, Presbyopia (the age-related loss of accommodation, often resulting in the need for bifocals) starts between the ages of 38-45 years, and affects virtually 100% of the population by around 50 years. It is estimated that 52% of the US population wears corrective lenses. In addition to determining your prescription, the doctor will check the health of your eye for the following common eye problems: 1. Cataracts (loss of clarity of the lens inside the eye) - Estimated to affect 42% of individuals between the ages of 52-64 years, only about 5% of these people actually suffer significant loss of vision. Nearly everyone develops some degree of cataracts by age 75-85 years of age, due to exposure to the sun/environment. Cataracts, if caught early are surgically removed, generally as an outpatient with outstanding results. 2. Glaucoma (loss of vision, beginning in the peripheral vision) - Often known as the “silent vision thief,” glaucoma can sneak in without noticeable signs or symptoms. If caught early enough, the pressure in the eye can be regulated with medication and or surgery to prevent complete vision loss. 3. Macular Degeneration (loss of central and fine, up close vision) - The leading cause of blindness in the US, the progression of this disease can be slowed, but as of yet there is no cure. To prevent total loss of vision early detection, through regular retinal exams, is paramount. There are various corneal diseases, retinal diseases and other conditions which result in loss of vision. There are also diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure which can be discovered by examining the back of the eyes. Side effects of certain drugs/medications may also be observed during eye examinations, that’s why it is so important to provide your paraprofessionals with complete histories and medication lists. Again, early detection is the key factor in treatment and sight preservation. |
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What Should I Ask my Eye Care Professional? You can protect yourself against vision loss by working in partnership with your eye care professional. Ask questions and get the information you need to take care of yourself and your family. What are some questions to ask? About my Tests... What kinds of tests will I have? About my Eye Disease or Disorder... What is my diagnosis? About my Treatment... What is the treatment for my condition? Other Suggestions *If you don't understand your eye care professional’s responses, ask questions until you do understand. *Take notes or get a friend or family member to take notes for you. Or, bring a tape recorder to help you remember the discussion. *Ask your eye care professional to write down his or her instructions to you. *Ask your eye care professional for printed material about your condition. *If you still have trouble understanding your eye care professional's answers, ask where you can go for more information. *Other members of your health care team, such as nurses and pharmacists, can be good sources of information. Talk to them, too. Today, patients take an active role in their health care! Be an active patient about your eye care! |
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