EYE EXAMINATION
In Scotland everyone is entitled to a free eye examination, which is paid for by the NHS. At Stephen Beirne Optometrists our fully comprehensive and professional eye examinations not only check the health of your eyes and quality of vision but offer an insight into your general health.
Should everyone have an eye examination?
Yes, everyone should have there eyes examined at least every 2 years. Adults need good vision for driving, work, hobbies and many other daily activities. Having and eye check regularly can pick up any issues early before they cause more serious eye or health problems. Many eye conditions dont have any symptoms in the early stages.General health conditions such as blood pressure and diabetes can be detected through an eye examination.
What happens during an eye examination?
An eye examaintion can take anything between 20 and 45 minutes depending on the patients age and vision level.It is not painful in any way. Stephen , our Optometrist, qualified in 1997 and has vast experience. He also has a prescribing qualification that allows him to treat eye conditions by writing prescriptions when required.
The eye test consists of :
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Vision test : This is now done with letters, or pictures for kids, on a lcd screen at 6m. This check you level of vision with and without correction( spectacles or contact lenses).
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Pressure test : This is done to check the pressure in your eyes ( normally on over 20's only) with a light puff of air .Patients who have high pressures in their eyes can be more at risk of developing glaucoma.
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Visual field test : This is a check of your peripheral vision. It uses small lights that appear on a screen and the patient has to click a button every time they see a light. It can be used to pick up neurological conditions and glaucoma amongst other things.
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2D Digital Retinal Photography : We can now take a picture inside your eye of the retina ( the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) . We can then compare them year on year to see any changes. The optometrist will also explain the photo's to you and discuss any issues.
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3D OCT scanning : The OCT scan is a next level 3D scan of the back of your eye. When we take a photo of the retina it is a top down 2D image. With the OCT we can see deep within the layers of the retina , from side on. It helps us see retinal pathology in more detail and helps us monitor the health your optic nerve by actually measuring it down to a thousandth of a mm! So we can see year on year if the nerve fibres are thinning ( which could be a sign of glaucoma).
How often should you routinely have an eye examination?
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Under 16 routinely every year
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16-59 routinely every 2 years.
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60+ routinely every year
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IN ADDITION YOU CAN BE SEEN AT ANY TIME IF YOUHAVE NEW SYMPTOMS
Book Your eye examination
If you think its been more than 2 years since you last eye examination, or your having issues with your eyes, or vision, call us today or book an appointment online.
