At Harrel Eyecare, our goal is to give every patient the best possible vision and keep their eyes as healthy as possible. Preventative eye care is the foundation of good eyesight and eye health, and we offer a variety of comprehensive eye exams to minimize your risks and maximize your vision. But you play an important role in making sure you receive regular exams, too. We need up-to-date information about your eyes and vision in order to provide the right treatments and corrective lenses, so it is important to schedule regular appointments with our optometrist in Tulsa.
If it has been awhile since your last eye exam (or you have never visited an optometrist before), it is especially important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. But before you do, we want you to be informed and prepared. To help dispel common eye care myths and make it easier to understand your eye care needs, our optometry team gathered some of our patients’ most frequently asked questions about eye exams. Protect your eyes by learning the answers to these important eye care questions.
How Often Should I Get An Eye Exam?
We generally recommend annual eye exams for every patient, regardless of whether you have a refractive error or other vision problem. However, your age, overall health, lifestyle, and a variety of risk factors will determine the right schedule for you. Our eye doctor in Tulsa, Dr. Monte Harrel, truly understands the value of comprehensive eye exams, especially for detecting problems early or tracking the progress of degenerative conditions. Dr. Harrel uses every eye examination as an opportunity to fully assess every patient’s eyes and vision.
What’s Involved In A Comprehensive Eye Examination?
Unlike vision tests and brief eye exams at the doctor’s office, a comprehensive eye exam must be performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Only an eye doctor is qualified to perform these detailed assessments, and only an eye doctor can use an eye exam to identify the very early signs of conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. But how, exactly, does Dr. Harrel do this?
Every patient has unique symptoms and needs, which we accommodate during our eye exams to make sure we’re looking for the right things. But in general, each comprehensive eye exam will include computerized measurements, vision tests, and exercises that allow us to assess the following factors:
- Fluid Pressure
- Coordination Between The Eyes
- Function And Movement Of Each Eye
- Color
- Shape
- Curvature
- Refractive Errors
- Visual Sharpness
- Presence Or Absence Of Disease Symptoms
What Is Involved In A Contact Lens Exam?
If you rely on contact lenses rather than eyeglasses, you will need an additional exam to make sure your new contacts fit comfortably and correct your vision properly. Hard to fit contacts and incorrect prescriptions will actually harm your eyesight and eye health, rather than improving them. Your eye doctor must perform a series of special vision tests and measurements to guarantee the ideal fit, prescription strength, and type of contacts for you.
What Is The Difference Between A Vision Screening And An Eye Exam?
Eye exams are comprehensive evaluations that allow your optometrist to fully assess your eye health and vision. Vision screenings, on the other hand, are initial tests that focus solely on your eyesight. These screenings are more basic, but they may include dilation and exercises to test your distance vision, sharpness, and other factors. Vision screenings are not replacements for comprehensive eye exams. If your vision screening reveals any vision problems, changes, or abnormalities, it is a good idea to schedule an eye exam.
How Much Does An Eye Exam Cost?
The cost of your eye care will depend on multiple factors, including the type of eye exam you need and the type of insurance you have. Contact us to learn more about our payment options, including the insurance plans we accept.
Schedule an Appointment with our Tulsa Optometrist
Routine checkups ensure that your eyes are protected. Call Harrel Eyecare at 918-376-7972 to schedule an eye exam with our Tulsa optometrist today.