Eye to Eye Optometry

Eye Exams

We offer complete optometric services. Here’s what you can expect at some of the most common eye examinations done in our clinic.

Comprehensive/routine examinations
Medically required examinations
Contact lens assessments/fits/refits
Computerized visual field testing
Retinal photography

ROUTINE/COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAMINATION:

Even if you think you see perfectly well, you should still have routine eye examinations.

Routine assessments enable you to achieve and maintain the clearest and most comfortable vision possible. In addition to ensuring your glasses prescription is up-to-date, routine examinations allow early detection and treatment of eye health issues (often before the patient even notices any visual symptoms) thereby minimizing the potential for vision loss. As well, our doctors will identify any family or individual risk factors you may have for certain eye diseases, and then inform you how to best manage or lower those risk factors.

At this examination, our doctors assess vision and prescription, eye health, color vision and binocularity (the ability of the two eyes to work as a team). In our office, routine examinations include retinal photography (see below). We also dilate the pupils of patients over 65 years of age, as well as patients with diabetes, high myopia (“nearsightedness”) , or certain symptoms such as flashing lights or recent floating spots. We do not charge extra for retinal photography or pupil dilation.

CHILDREN

Your child’s first routine eye exam should be at six months of age, at which time our doctors will assess for any gross abnormalities which might hinder normal development of your child’s eyes. The next exam is typically at three years old, and then annually up to and including 18 years of age. Many childhood eye conditions can be treated very successfully if detected at an early age.

Treatable conditions commonly found in this age group include:

-Amblyopia : one eye is much weaker than the other. Sometimes the child or the parent may report issues with depth perception, a turned eye, clumsiness, headaches or eyestrain, but usually children with amblyopia make no complaints, because their better eye compensates somewhat for the weaker eye, and the child does not realize they should see any differently than they do. Parents are often unaware their child has a weak eye until it is detected during an eye examination.

-Severe Hyperopia: the child’s eyes need to work much harder than normal to see, particularly up close. The child may appear to see quite clearly, both in the distance and at near, but their eyes must work very hard to achieve clear vision. This can cause headaches, sporadic or constant blur, crossed eyes, and difficulty or disinterest in reading.

-Strabismus: the child has an eye turn, either constant or intermittent, often resulting in poor vision in one eye, double vision and/or poor depth perception.

What if my child does not know their letters or numbers?

Children do not need to know their alphabet or be able to identify letters before they come for an eye examination. Our doctors use picture charts, puppets, stickers and tests designed specifically for infants and young children, to allow children to have a great time while we gather critical information about their vision and eye health.

For more information about children’s eye exams, check out the following Canadian Association of Optometrist’s website: www.opto.ca/en/parent/children-vision.html

ADULTS

ADULTS between 19 and 64 years of age should typically have a routine eye examination every two years. Eye conditions often diagnosed and treated between these ages include glaucoma, dry eyes and complications related to systemic health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and thyroid disease.

Many patients in this age group are highly involved in visually-demanding tasks such as driving, studying, computer work and reading. This is made even more challenging between approximately 40 and 60 years of age when it becomes increasingly more difficult to focus at near-referred to as presbyopia. Maintaining an up-to-date prescription with the most appropriate lens options is critical if you want to have clear vision and minimize eyestrain/fatigue during visually-demanding tasks.

SENIORS

SENIORS (65 years of age and over) should have routine eye examinations annually. Some eye health conditions more prevalent with age are macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. In addition, certain medications and some systemic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure may cause eye complications. Our doctors assess for these conditions and complications during routine examinations, as well as counseling regarding preventive measures which may be taken.

Our doctors recommend pupil dilation for patients over 65. Pupil size typically decreases with age, limiting the view of the internal tissues of the eye. Dilating small pupils allows better assessment of the health of the eyes. Dilated examinations require the instillation of eye drops. The drops we use will make your eyes feel heavy/sticky for approximately half an hour, and it will be very bright and moderately blurry for approximately 3-4 hours. PLEASE BRING A DRIVER WITH YOU TO THE EXAMINATION. Many patients are not able to drive with their pupils dilated.

For more information about senior’s vision and eye health concerns, check out the following Canadian Association of Optometrist’s website: www.opto.ca/en/eye-health-info/eye-health-library/aging-vision.html

MEDICALLY REQUIRED EXAMINATION:

This is done when a patient comes to the office because of a particular, usually urgent concern such as red eyes, discharge, discomfort, pain, itch, sudden blur, flashing lights, floating spots, peripheral vision changes, double vision, and so on. Our doctors do the appropriate tests based on the patient‘s complaint, and then treat that issue specifically. Occasionally, assessment with a specialist is deemed to be necessary, and the patient is referred to the most suitable specialist in the most appropriate time frame.

Usually, if a patient has an urgent concern, and is also due for a routine examination, we will book the medically required examination for one day, and book the patient back for a routine examination at a later date. This is because urgent appointments do not usually allot enough time for a complete/routine examination. As well, often the condition causing the concern needs to be dealt with before accurate results can be obtained for all of the tests in a routine examination.

If you develop an eye concern, do not hesitate to contact our office. Some eye conditions can lead to permanent problems if not diagnosed and treated quickly, while others may not be as urgent. Our staff are trained to recognize the urgency of the above symptoms and to book appointments within an appropriate time frame.

Medically required examinations are typically covered by Alberta Health Care, for all age groups.

CONTACT LENS ASSESSMENTS/FITTINGS/REFITS:

We fit most types and most brands of contact lenses, including toric contacts (for patients with astigmatism), bifocal contacts, colored contacts, contacts for patients with dry eyes, and rigid gas permeable contacts. The vast majority of contacts we fit are either daily, 2-week, or monthly soft, disposable lenses. Usually a contact lens fit is accomplished in 2-4 appointments over approximately one month, with checkups as necessary over approximately the first six months. Once the fit is completed, contact lens wearers should have annual eye examinations with contact lens assessments to minimize any risk of developing contact lens-related complications.

We are frequently asked at what age kids can start to wear contact lenses. The age to start contact lenses is not “set in stone”; however, it is critical that the child is old enough to be a responsible contact lens wearer. Proper hand-washing, lens storage, adherence to disposal schedules, compliance with wearing time recommendations, and ability/willingness to follow the instructions we give to the patient are important to maintain safe contact lens wear and healthy eyes. Usually around thirteen years of age, most kids start to become responsible enough to consider contact lens wear. However, this decision is best made based on open discussion between the parent(s) of the child and the child’s optometrist, usually also with some input from the child. Often with this age group, we will use daily disposable contact lenses to ensure the patient starts with a fresh, clean pair of contact lenses each day.

Contact lens-related appointments are NOT covered by Alberta Health Care, for any age group.

For more information about contact lenses, check out the Canadian Association of Optometrist’s website at www.opto.ca/en/eye-health-info/eye-health-library/contact-lenses.html

COMPUTERIZED VISUAL FIELD TESTING:

Visual field testing is an assessment of a patient’s peripheral vision and is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of numerous eye conditions. The patient sits in a dimly lit room in front of a curved screen, and pushes a button whenever they see a light. The computer records any areas where the patient does not see as well as they should. Some reasons why our doctors may book a visual field test include suspicion or monitoring of glaucoma, retinal detachment, inflammatory disease, and various cardiovascular conditions. Computerized visual field testing usually takes between twenty to thirty minutes, and we are happy to be able to provide this test right in our own office.

Visual field testing IS typically covered by Alberta Health Care.

RETINAL PHOTOGRAPHY:

The retina is incredibly complex tissue composed of layers of light-sensing nerves(photoreceptors), blood vessels, and pigment, coating the inside of the eye. This is the part of the eye that actually detects light-like the film of a camera. The rest of the eye acts more as focusing apparatus-like the lens of a camera. The photoreceptors detect light and then send signals to the brain which puts information from all the photoreceptors together to form images. Therefore, any damage or disease of the retina affects the detection and transmission of light and images, and can result in significant and often irreversible loss of vision.

The retina is seen by looking through the patient’s pupil, into the back of their eye (like looking inside a beach ball through the air hole). However, due to the complexity of retinal tissue, it is virtually impossible to record in writing exactly what it looks like. In this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words. Having retinal photographs to compare from visit to visit can assist in detection of very small changes, resulting in early treatment and thus minimizing the impact on vision.

For this reason, our office includes retinal photographs as part of our routine eye examinations for all patients old enough to sit still for it-usually starting around 8 years of age.