Eye Exams - Testing for more than just 20/20

Our comprehensive examination includes a detailed case history looking not only at your past eye or vision problems and concerns, but also your current and future visual needs. A full eye health examination includes a dilated exam of the internal eye, a glaucoma test, and a full refraction for both distance and near. Our equipment is state-of-the-art and is a key component to providing you with the best oculo-visual care available. A Canon auto refractor, a Reichert non-contact tonometer (to screen eye pressures), and a stereoscopic visual acuity, depth perception, and colour vision screener are all used as part of your pre-test.

We also have the following premium instrumentation for your advanced care needs: a Medmont corneal topographer, a Medmont visual field analyzer, and digital imaging cameras to document any notable conditions or defects found in your eyes. Colour copies can be provided for your own records at a nominal fee.

Including all pre-testing, refractive, and health tests, an eye exam can easily take up to 40 minutes. Please expect to be in our office for up to an hour, especially if contact lenses are to be fit/evaluated. To see the optician or to visit the optical dispensary to try different frame styles, no appointment is necessary.

There's more to healthy vision than 20/20! Our comprehensive vision exam goes beyond 20/20 to evaluate many important visual skills, such as:


Binocular Vision
Do the two eyes aim, move and work as a coordinated team? Weaknesses in binocular vision can cause numerous difficulties including convergence insufficiency and poor depth perception. 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.
Accommodation
Do the eyes maintain clear vision at varying distances? Rapid, automatic eye focusing (or accommodation) is critical to learning, reading, writing, sports, etc. Deficiencies can cause visual fatigue and reduced reading comprehension.

Above are just a few of the many visual skills evaluated during your comprehensive vision examination. Once we have assessed your particular conditions and needs, we present all available options. These may include glasses, contact lenses, eye exercises and vision therapy, eye drops, medications, diet suggestions, etc. You may be referred to an eye surgeon or other medical specialist for conditions requiring further assessment and care.

Vision Exams for Children and Teens
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that infants and toddlers have their first eye examination at the age of 6 months. Preschool children should have an examination at the age of three and prior to school entry. Children between 6 to 19 years of age should have their eyes examined annually.

Vision Exams for Adults
The Canadian Association of Optometrists 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.


104 East Broadway at Quebec, Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1V9
Tel: (604) 874-7302  FAX: (604) 876-2604
0004845