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Your Vision Deserves Comprehensive Eye Exams at Lakeville Family Eye Care.


As your eyes gradually change, so can your vision and prescription needs, which is why regular eye exams are crucial.

Home » Eye Care Services In Lakeville MN » Comprehensive Eye Exam in Lakeville

Your Eyes Evolve Over Time

Vision changes are a natural aspect of aging, influenced by climate, hormones, pregnancy, medications, and daily activities. Just as you prioritize annual physical check-ups with your family doctor for overall health, regular eye exams are equally, if not more, crucial for maintaining clear vision and a high quality of life. If you are wondering, 'How can I book an eye exam near me?', contact our office today. We'll gladly schedule an appointment at your convenience.

How Does A Comprehensive Eye Exam Work?

Unlike a standard eye check-up, a comprehensive eye examination at Lakeville Family Eye Care goes beyond the basics, providing a detailed and thorough assessment of your eyes and visual capabilities. During this examination, your doctor will assess your medical history, family health background, current medications, past hospital visits, and daily lifestyle — factors that can significantly impact your vision.

Our comprehensive eye exam encompasses a range of tests to evaluate your overall eye health. Here at Lakeville Family Eye Care in Lakeville, we utilize state-of-the-art medical equipment and cutting-edge technologies to deliver the highest quality of care.

The refraction test, also known as the basic vision or eye test, plays a crucial role in the comprehensive eye examination. This test aids the doctor in determining the type of prescription you may require. The refraction test is straightforward: gaze through a specialized device called a Phoropter, focusing on an eye chart typically positioned about 20 feet away from your chair. Your doctor will assess different lenses to identify the ones that provide the sharpest vision for you.

Based on your specific case, the doctor may perform any of the following tests:

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Visual Field Test

Your visual field is the area that you see while looking at a specific object. For example, when you look at a car, your eyes are focused on it, but you may also see things that surround the car, such as flowers on the ground or rain falling on the windshield. A visual field test examines your ability to see what is in this direct area. Certain eye conditions or neurological disorders can negatively impact your visual field, which is why this test is an essential part of a comprehensive eye exam.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Eye Pressure Test

A tonometry test, more commonly referred to as an eye pressure test, checks the amount of intraocular pressure (IOP) in your eye. Because a high level of pressure can be a sign of Glaucoma, the eye pressure test is an essential part of any comprehensive eye exam. This test involves eye drops which numb the eye, followed by a small device that the doctor uses to gently touch the eye, checking pressure levels.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Binocular Vision Assessment

Similar to how binoculars allow you to use both eyes simultaneously when looking at something far away, binocular vision is the ability of your left and right eye to focus on an image or object so that your brain “translates” the image into understanding what you’re seeing. At its basic level, binocular vision means how the eyes work together as a team.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Color Evaluation

A color evaluation tests the ability to differentiate between colors. It is usually done with Ishihara color plates, a series of round circles with colored dots inside that form a number. The patient studies the image, either on paper or on a computer screen, and determines if they can clearly see the number.  This is an important test because difficulty distinguishing between red and green often is a sign of color blindness.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Corneal Mapping

Corneal Mapping is a process involving the measurement of the cornea. {DoctorName} will use a computerized system and/or a keratometer to collect exact details about the size and shape of your cornea. This is done to ensure that the curvature and size is correct, which allows light to enter your eye so that you can focus on images and see clearly.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Digital Retinal Imaging

Digital retinal imaging technology allows the doctor to check the health of your retina. The image is captured from a special digital camera. The camera takes a photo of the retina, which is located in the back of the eye, and stores the image electronically. This is crucial to your vision needs because the retina helps focus light that enters your eye and sends images to the brain, so that you can ultimately understand the things you see.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Eye Pressure Test

A tonometry test, more commonly referred to as an eye pressure test, checks the amount of intraocular pressure (IOP) in your eye. Because a high level of pressure can be a sign of Glaucoma, the eye pressure test is an essential part of any comprehensive eye exam. This test involves eye drops which numb the eye, followed by a small device that the doctor uses to gently touch the eye, checking pressure levels.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 OCT Scan

Similar to a traditional CT scan, an OCT Scan (Optical Coherence Tomography) checks for eye diseases by examining the layers of your retina and optic nerve. This test involves the use of a laser with light to provide the doctor with detailed, colored images of the retina. There is no radiation and the test is painless and non-invasive.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Visual Acuity Test

Visual Acuity is the ability to see clear, sharp images from various distances. To test this skill, the doctor will instruct you to look at an eye chart in various types of bright lighting. The smallest letters or numbers that you can clearly see determines your level of visual acuity.

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Peripheral Vision Assessment

Peripheral Vision is the ability to see what is to the side without moving your head. While your eyes may be focused on an image or object, you can still see things around that focal point. The doctor performs this assessment by instructing you to focus on something directly in front of you, such as a pen. Then you’ll be asked what you can see to the side or slightly away from that object. This test can determine if there is any loss of peripheral vision, which can indicate a number of eye diseases, such as Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, or Retinitis Pigmentosa.

 

arrow-circle-right-3 arrow-circle-right-3 Refraction Exam

A refraction exam is considered a basic part of an eye and vision evaluation. Refraction is how you see things around you. When there is an imperfection in the refraction of your eye, it causes blurry vision. The 2 main vision problems from refractive issues are nearsightedness and farsightedness. The doctor may conduct this simple test by shining a light into your eyes to check how the light bends through it, or a computerized test may also be used.

What To Expect in
a Comprehensive Eye Exam

At Lakeville Family Eye Care, we approach your eye care with unwavering attention to detail, which is why a comprehensive eye exam may span up to one hour. It’s a thorough evaluation of your visual well-being, ensuring that your doctor can optimize your vision, allowing you to relish life to its fullest.

Every patient is unique, and if the doctor identifies any eye conditions requiring treatment, we’ll craft a personalized treatment strategy tailored precisely to your requirements.

doctor patient consultation
A smiling young lady, Eye Care in Lakeville, MN

Children’s Eye Exams in Lakeville

Because the vision of our young patients undergoes rapid changes as they grow, it differs significantly from that of adults. Toddlers, school-age children, and adolescents each have unique vision needs at various stages of their development, underscoring the importance of regular and thorough eye examinations. Educational experts emphasize that an astounding 80% of learning relies on visual abilities. Surprisingly, many difficulties in learning and extracurricular activities can be linked to underlying eye issues.

Challenges like difficulty concentrating or appearing fidgety can sometimes be mistaken for ADHD when, in reality, a child may be experiencing vision problems. Warning signs may encompass headaches, fatigue during schoolwork or sports, or frequent squinting at the blackboard. Because children undergo rapid development, particularly in their early years, doctors recommend regular eye exams to monitor their visual progress and identify potential concerns. In alignment with the guidelines set forth by the American Optometric Association (AOA), we recommend eye exams at six months of age, at three years, upon entry into school, and then every two years.