Eye health checks
A look at the health of your eyes
A health check looks past your prescription at the pressure inside the eye, the optic nerve, the retina and the lens. It is part of every comprehensive exam, and some visits are about little else.
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of glaucoma or an old eye injury, your doctor may ask you to come more often. The doctor explains what each check is for.
A visit about an eye health concern is usually billed to medical insurance. How fees work explains which part goes where.
- Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
At the visit
What a health check includes
- 01
Step 1: Pressure
A quick, gentle puff or touch measures the pressure inside each eye.
- 02
Step 2: The front of the eye
The doctor looks through a microscope at the lids, the surface of the eye and the lens.
- 03
Step 3: The back of the eye
Drops widen the pupil, or a photograph shows the optic nerve and retina. Your doctor chooses with you.
- 04
Step 4: A scan, when it helps
Some visits add a scan or a photograph of the back of the eye, so the next visit can be compared.
- 05
Step 5: Your results
The doctor explains what was found and when to come back. If you need care we do not provide, we refer you to the right doctor.
Who it is for
Who comes for a health check
Adults over 40
Eye health changes with age, and a check is part of every exam.
People with diabetes
Diabetes can affect the back of the eye, so checks are regular.
Families with glaucoma
A parent or sibling with glaucoma is a reason to be checked more often.
Anyone with a change
A new symptom or a past injury is worth a look.
Questions
About health checks
Will I need drops?
Sometimes. If you would rather not have your eyes dilated, ask about a photograph of the back of the eye.
What if you find something?
The doctor explains it in plain words and what comes next. If you need care we do not provide, we refer you to the right doctor and send your records.
Is a health check part of a regular exam?
Yes. A comprehensive exam includes one, and a longer visit adds more tests when your doctor asks for them.
Book an eye health check
Choose an office and a time, or call.