An ocular medical exam is a comprehensive examination of the eyes and surrounding structures that can be performed by any of our skilled optometrist. The exam way be specific to a certain concern that has arisen or may be to assess the overall health of the eyes and detect any potential problems or diseases.
Our exams typically begin with a review of the your medical history, including any previous eye problems, medications, and other health related conditions. We will then perform a visual acuity test to assess your ability to see clearly at various distances along with checking the interocular pressure of your eyes.
Next, we will use a variety of diagnostic tools to examine your eyes, including a slit lamp, which is a microscope that allows us to examine the eye in much greater detail. We may also perform a dilated fundus examination, which involves dilating the pupils to allow for a better view of the back of the eye, including the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels.
Additional tests may also be performed, such as tonometry, which measures the pressure within the eye, visual field testing, which assesses peripheral vision, topography, which maps out the front curvature of the eye, pachymetry, which measures the thickness of the cornea, optical coherence tomography (OCT) which can take ultrasound images of certain ocular tissue.
During the exam, we can also check for any signs of eye disease, such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and ocular allergies to name just a few.
Based on the results of the exam, we may prescribe a treatment plan, which may include corrective lenses, medication, or surgery.
Overall, an ocular medical exam is an important step in maintaining good eye health. Regular eye exams can help detect potential problems early and prevent vision loss. We recommended a comprehensive eye exam every year, or possibly more often if there is a history of eye problems or other risk factors.
