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Testing for More than 20/20 - Exams for Children - Exams for Adults

Eye Exam

Testing for More than 20/20

20/20 eyesight is not perfect. Eyeglasses and sight-improvement methods (such as, Bates or SeeClearly) are not always the answer. Vision is a total body process. A sophisticated visual analysis requires 21 different tests to determine your unique visual pattern.

Most eye exams lead only to a prescription for glasses which reinforces visual weakness and may not uncover more fundamental visual problems, which may result in the following symptoms:
  • eyestrain,
  • fatigue,
  • discomfort with your glasses or contact lenses,
  • oversensitivity to light,
  • short attention span,
  • inability to concentrate,
  • general nervousness and tension,
  • headaches,
  • blurry or double vision,
  • poor reading skills and/or academic underachievement,
  • coordination difficulties,
  • the need to rub your eyes,
  • permanent squint or frown.
I will analyze your vision and prescribe special lenses and/or daily eye exercises to rid you of your symptoms and make your everyday life more comfortable. My comprehensive vision exam goes beyond 20/20 to evaluate many important visual skills, such as:
  • Visual Acuity at Near
    Is vision clear and single at close distances? Clear sight at short distances is critical to reading, writing, close work, computer use, etc.

  • Eye Teaming Skills
    Do the two eyes aim, move, and work as a coordinated team? Weaknesses in binocular (two-eyed) vision and eye teaming skills can cause numerous difficulties, including convergence insufficiency and poor depth perception.

  • Eye Focusing Skills
    Do the eyes maintain clear vision at varying distances? Rapid, automatic eye focus adjustment is critical to learning, reading, writing, sports, etc. Deficiencies can cause visual fatigue, reduced reading comprehension, and/or avoidance of close work or other activities.

  • Eye Movement Skills
    Do eye movements show adequate muscle control, tracking, fixation, etc.? In the classroom, normal eye movements allow rapid and accurate shifting of the eyes along a line of print or from book to desk to board, etc.  In sports, efficient eye movements contribute to eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, and accurate tracking.

  • Reversal Frequency
    Is confusion or reversal of letters or words (b, d; p, q; saw, was; etc.) within the normal ranges for a given age?  Past the age of seven, frequent visual and written reversals might indicate a visual perceptual dysfunction.

Above are just a few of the many visual skills evaluated during my comprehensive vision exam.  In addition, the health of your eyes, inside and out, is carefully evaluated for such problems as cataracts, glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes, etc. 

Vision Exams for Children

The American Optometric Association recommends that pre-school children receive a complete vision exam at the ages of six months, three years and five years.  It is particularly important that a child have a complete evaluation in the summer prior to entry into Kindergarten.  While in school, yearly evaluations are recommended. 

Vision Exams for Adults

The American Optometric Association recommends a yearly eye exam for adults -- not only to detect and to diagnose vision changes or problems -- but, also to maintain eye health.  For example, glaucoma, a disease caused by increased pressure in the eye, commonly goes unnoticed by adults.  Regular vision examinations are also important for the prevention of vision problems created or aggravated by today's academic and professional demands.

21st century lifestyles demand more from our vision than ever before.  Adults in our technological society constantly use their near vision at work and at home.  C.V.S. (Computer Vision Syndrome) is one of the fastest growing health concerns in the workplace today.  Environmental stresses on the visual system (including excessive computer use or close work) can sometimes induce headaches and/or visual difficulties which can be effectively treated with corrective lenses and/or Vision Therapy.

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There's more to healthy vision than 20/20 eyesight!
Learn about symptoms of visual problems which
affect reading, learning, sports and quality of life.


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