What thoughts come to your mind when you think about an eye test? The letter chart? A script change? Some new glasses? The truth of the matter is, although the above may all be correct, an eye test should be so much more than that.
During every consultation, our optometrist Paul Fotkou never wants you to feel like your appointment is rushed. That is why we leave at least 40 minutes for your routine eye examination. But one of the most asked questions we have here at Adelaide City Optometrist is “what happens in my eye test?” Of course, this question is very difficult to answer because it differs for every person that walks through our doors.
GENERAL CHECK
First things first. We want to know all about you. We need to find out how you’re using your eyes in your day-to-day life. This allows us to get an idea of what lenses you’ll be needing, how often you’ll take glasses on or off, and when/where you’ll be using them. We also take this time to do a colour vision check depending on your everyday life. We will always complete this on athletes, pilots, and anyone complaining of colour deficiency.
Next thing it was everybody thinks of in an eye exam, checking your script. We still use the Snellen chart to check your immediate vision but also like to look deeper than the surface. For us, it’s not just what you can see, but the quality of your vision. This goes beyond being able to see the smallest text on the chart but ensuring we are processing the image correctly. Are you seeing double? Or have objects moving while you’re standing still? When we encounter processing issues with our vision, it often appears grey, and depending on where we are looking, can sometimes feel dizzy. Even with our vision corrected, some of us still suffer from blurred vision and light or motion sensitivity. This may mean further problems such as eye disease, concussion, or stroke which we will then examine further. Paul Fotkou also ensures to take every opportunity to explain what’s happening with your eyes and we’re going to help correct or fix it.
There are 4 causes, or refractive errors, that are responsible for 90% of our eye problems and blurry vision. These are astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia, or presbyopia. Many of us are only affected by one of these conditions but with age can sometimes suffer from symptoms of up to 3. During your consultation, Paul will discuss with you the cause of your unclear vision and whether you should fix it with glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy (self-managed exercises), or eye surgery.
Not all of us have eyes that work in perfect sync together and it’s important to work out not only if our eyes can see, but how they’re moving individually and together. Eyes not moving together could be caused by several things most commonly including problems with the muscles, nerves, or problems in the brain. Most often, particularly when we are children, these problems can be fixed with eye based exercises to be performed at home but later in life may need surgery to overcome.
EYE HEALTH
Here at Adelaide City Optometrist, we go beyond the regular exam checks and ensure that you’re also up to date on your eye health. Paul Fotkou will complete on most some OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans to get a better indication of your eye status. OCT scans look at the cornea and retina of your eyes and break them down into layers. Doing so allows Paul to see if you have or are developing any diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes in the eyes. If there are problems that aren’t fixed by initial solutions, you may be recommendation to return for neuro testing. Paul will also complete dry eye assessments using the meibomian gland dysfunction machine to help check your tear glands. If there are found to be any problems in this area, you will be provided with some sample eye drops, solutions or lubricants to use as direct by Paul. After this, we’ll most likely advise a follow-up appointment in which Paul can reassess your condition and recommend the correct product to continue using.
EYEWEAR CONSULTATION
If at the end of the appointment you find out you’re going to be needing glasses, don’t worry we can help you with this too! Our practice manager Nadia has over 10 years’ experience in fitting frames and uses several considerations to help you find the perfect frame with your prescription lenses. We’ll never pick a frame for you if you’re not comfortable with the price, fit, lens, colour or look. If wanting a more personal experience. We also offer a private frame consultation, in which you’ll have the whole studio to yourself and the undivided attention of our employees.
CONTACT LENS CONSULTATION
We’re also here to help with all your contact lens needs. We regularly fit professional athletes for contact lenses, tailoring the product to suit their needs. There are several appointments dedicated to educating you on fitting, inserting, removing, and caring for your contact lenses. During your initial consultation, we’ll find the best-shaped contact lenses to suit your eyes and then based on your everyday needs, recommend a product to give you optimum comfort and vision.
The different types of contact lenses we offer include transition, multifocal, myopia reducing, and colour contacts. We can also offer all our contact lenses direct to your home or work with payment over the phone. This service helps our clients who are constantly on the go and don’t always have the time to come in to collect their lenses.
OTHER SERVICES
We also offer a range of other services specific to our patients’ needs. If ever wanting to find out more about these and learn about whether it could help you, call us on 08 8224 0819 to learn more.
Eye Pressures:
Taking eye pressures by using a puff of air used to be the only way for optometrists to diagnose Glaucoma. However, there are now plenty of other ways for us to diagnose the condition. Taking eye pressures helps to monitor the condition and tell us if patients react negatively to other medications.
Visual Fields:
A visual field test in its simplest form is a test of your peripheral vision. Your head sits in a large bowl with one eye covered, pressing a button when you can see lights flashing in the bowl. The test allows us to monitor the development of Glaucoma in the eye as well as our eye deterioration with age. Neurological conditions such as stroke, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and concussion may also affect our vision and we can see how through a visual field test.
Driver’s Assessment:
Our optometrist Paul Fotkou is also able to provide our clients with an approved glasses assessment. During a test he will be able to inform you if you require glasses for driving and if with/without them you meet the visual requirements to be on the road.
Eyelash Removal:
Not to be confused with eyelash extensions, Paul removes eyelashes in the studio for clients in a 10-20-minute appointment. Those who suffer from in-turned eyelashes (Entropion) will have symptoms such as red/itchy eyes, scratched corneas, and irritation. The removal of these lashes will relieve these symptoms and stop further damage to your eye’s exterior.
There’s no time like the present to get your eyes tested and ensure you’re looking after them as best you can. At Adelaide City Optometrist, our goal is to provide you with an informative, enjoyable, and unique eye experience. We provide a unique, one of a kind eyewear service along with unique frames and extensive lens selection to suit everybody’s needs. We also offer a range of specialist appointments including sports vision, neuro-vision (concussion), aviation eye exams, and more.
To find out more, call us on 08 8224 0819 or book an eye appointment today!