Frequently Asked Questions

There are many places that offer vision screenings—health fairs, schools, the workplace, or when being tested for a driver’s license. Vision screenings only test your ability to see clearly in the distance. It doesn’t evaluate how well the eyes work together or how they focus up close. Most importantly, it doesn’t give any information about the health of the eyes. Even if it is a physician who conducts the screening, they would generally only have had access to a certain amount of eye health training. Most individuals don’t have the tools or knowledge to give a complete assessment of your vision or eye health.

A comprehensive eye exam includes a thorough examination of your ocular health and visual abilities. There are many factors that contribute to the overall health of our eyes and can cause changes that we may not even be aware of—things like climate, medications, hormones, the natural aging process, and more. An annual eye exam can ensure that your vision and ocular health remain in optimal condition. A comprehensive eye exam can also help detect possible health conditions you may be unaware of. For instance, when Dr. Star is evaluating the health of the blood vessels in your retina, it also predicts the health of the blood vessels throughout your body, and can help detect conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Annual eye exams are especially important for anyone with diabetes or at risk for diabetes since it can detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy— the leading cause of blindness among adults.

The comprehensive eye exam will look at your eye externally and internally for any signs of eye disease, then test your vision in a variety of ways.

• External Exam: An evaluation of the whites of your eyes, the iris, pupil, eyelids, and eyelashes.
• Internal Exam: An evaluation of the retina and optic nerve while your eyes are dilated.
• Visual Function and Eye Health: This includes testing depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, and the response of the pupils to light, as well as an evaluation of eye focusing, eye teaming, and eye movement abilities.
• Glaucoma Testing: Testing of fluid pressure within your eyes to check for the possibility of glaucoma.
• Visual Acuity: Your vision will be tested using different lenses to determine if glasses or contact lenses can improve your vision.

Dr. Starr will discuss your overall health and that of your immediate family, any medications you are taking, whether you have high blood pressure or diabetes, if you smoke, how much sun you’re exposed to—things like that. This information will help her properly assess your eye health.

• Your eyeglasses and sunglasses
• Insurance card, if applicable
• Name of contact lens solution you use
• Any eye drops you use on a regular basis
• A list of your current medications
• A list of any allergies you may have
• Your family and medical history

For those between the ages of 18 and 54, the American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam every two years. Ages 55 and up should schedule a comprehensive exam every one to two years.

If you don’t have any vision problems, the following timetable is a recommended guideline:

Increase the frequency of eye exams if you:

• Wear glasses or contact lenses.
• Have a family history of eye disease or vision loss.
• Have any eye condition, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.
• Have a chronic disease that increases your risk of eye disease, such as diabetes.
• Take medications with side effects that can affect your eyes.