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Eye Exams for Adults

by Siems Lasik on June 18, 2013

Receiving routine and comprehensive adult eye exams is critical for maintaining healthy vision and identifying and treating various diseases or disorders. Adults in Las Vegas should receive eye exams every other year and every year after turning sixty years of age. These exams are crucial for detecting cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. Exams are particularly important for people that have risk factors or a family history of eye problems. Dr. Jon L. Siems has performed routine adult exams in Las Vegas since 2001, and is one of the most experienced Ophthalmologists in Nevada.

What to do before your eye exam

It is very important for patients to be prepared.  The first step is the initial phone call to an experienced optometrist of the patients choosing to schedule an appointment.  Patients should be prepared to describe any vision problems.

Patients should create a list of questions they have or any specific issues with their vision. They should also list all current medications along with noting their family history regarding eye health.

If the patient wears glasses or contact lenses, they should bring them to the appointment. It is also a good idea to bring a dark pair of sunglasses in case the pupils are dilated.  The patient may be advised to plan to have someone take them home if needed.

What to expect during an eye exam

A thorough medical and vision history is generally requested as the first step in exams for adults, followed by a 30-60 minute evaluation of their vision and their overall eye health. Tests that are typically administered during a routine adult exam are listed as the following:

Test for movement of eye muscles:

This test is performed by observing the patient’s ability to visually follow a moving light that continually changes direction.  This test identifies control and muscle strength.

Test your eyes for visual acuity:

This test requires the patient to cover one eye at a time and then read the letters they see on the chart in front of them.  They are asked to read as far down as possible to the smallest letters they are able to see clearly.

Test for reaction of pupils and the exterior:

This test allows the optometrist to observe how the patient’s pupils react to light and to nearby objects. The exterior of each eye is also observed, including the eyelid position and the white part of the eye.

Eye cover test:

This test determines whether the patient’s eyes work well together by covering and uncovering each one as the patient stares at objects of varying distances.

Retinoscopy:

This test can be conducted either by shining a light in to the patient’s eyes or by having them look through a machine with flip lenses while the optometrist observes how the light is reflecting off each of their eyes.

Test for glaucoma:

This tests the fluid pressure of the eye and is administered by blowing a puff of air using a special instrument used after numbing drops are administered.

Refraction test:

This test is only used if the patient has or needs corrective lenses. It is typically administered by having the patient identify the clearer of two slides that are continuously flipped back and forth.

Retinal eye exam:

This test involves dilating the pupils and using an ophthalmoscope to examine the back of the eyes, including the retina, vitreous, retinal blood vessels, and the head of the optic nerve.

Slit lamp test:

This test uses a slit lamp to light up and magnify the front of the eye in order to detect a number of disorders and diseases by observing the lens, cornea, iris, and anterior chamber.

Test of the visual field:

This exam tests the patients peripheral vision.

Pachymetry exam:

By using ultrasound, the optometrist is able to get a baseline reading of the corneal thickness used for future comparison for patients possibly needing corneal surgery.

Dilating the pupils in your eyes:

This is done by enlarging the pupils by using special drops.  This allows the optometrist to fully examine the inside of the eye using various lights and instruments.  It takes about twenty to thirty minutes for the pupils to dilate and may cause the eyes to be more sensitive to light or cause blurry vision.  This is where bringing sunglasses to the exam may come in handy.

Tips for finding an Optometrist

  • Family doctor referrals
  • Friends and family referrals
  • Department of optometry or ophthalmology at local medical centers or hospitals
  • State associations, academies, or optometrist and ophthalmology societies

Dr. Jon L. Siems has been providing adults in Las Vegas with surgeries and exams since 2001. He is equipped with the most up to date technology and a highly trained and caring staff.  He is well known in his field and among his Las Vegas peers and has been referred to as “the best” by his patients.  He provides comprehensive adult exams but also attends to patients of all ages. Siems Lasik and Eye Center provides flexible office hours including Saturdays for those individuals with busy schedules. Dr. Siems is highly professional, yet treats his patients like family. Contact his Las Vegas office today to schedule an adult exam.

Eye Exams for Children

by Siems Lasik on June 11, 2013

It is important for children to receive regular eye exams from an optometrist in order to diagnose any eye issues and to refer them to the appropriate pediatric doctor. Dr. Jon L. Siems and his staff have been performing pediatric eye exams in Las Vegas since 2001 on children of all ages.

What to do before your child’s eye exam

As with any other type of visit to a pediatric doctor or dentist, it is important to prepare children for an eye exam. The best way to do this is to have an open and honest dialogue with them about what they can expect. It is important to explain to them that the optometrist will ask them questions about different objects, pictures, shapes, letters, numbers, or types of light.

Parents should also explain that different types of “tools” will be used during their exam, just like at their pediatric doctor. These tools will likely be objects that both the optometrist and child will look through and may resemble a pair of glasses attached to a large piece of metal or a large magnifying glass.

It is especially important to prepare the child for the possibility of the optometrist using drops and explain to them that although it might sting slightly, it will not last long and the stinging sensation will go away very quickly. If the child seems unusually frightened at the thought of drops, it may be beneficial to practice giving them drops at home prior to their actual exam.

Different types of eye testing

There are several different tests that can be performed on children depending on their age. Babies one year or less are typically checked for astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness, Amblyopia, proper alignment and movement of the eyes, and the reaction to differing degrees of darkness and light. If any of these issues are detected, a referral can be made to a pediatric opthamologist. Early detection of any vision issues is critical for treatment.

Children age 3 to 5 will typically receive a physical exam and a vision screening. Charts, letters, pictures, and a common visual acuity test for children called the tumbling E’s game or Random E’s test will likely be used to test their ability to recognize the form of objects and identify details.

For a child older than 5, additional pictures may be shown for proper identification. These pictures are generally of simple and familiar objects like a house, a hand, an airplane, or a duck.

Children of all ages are checked for Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye.” This condition occurs when unequal vision is exhibited despite the use of glasses or other corrective measures. There are many different causes of Amblyopia and all are reversible with early detection.

Tips for finding an eye doctor

A child’s vision should be carefully entrusted to a competent, experienced pediatric optometrist. In Las Vegas, Dr. Jon Siems has been providing eye exams for children and adults, as well as performing surgeries since 2001. Dr. Siems uses the most advanced tools available in Las Vegas for diagnostic purposes. He realizes the importance of early detection and the immediate need for corrective treatment if necessary. He and his professional staff will work with parents in seeking the proper treatment for any vision issues detected.

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