- Comprehensive Eye Exams
- Cosmetic and Medically Necessary Contact Lenses
- Hard To Fit and Specialty Contact Lenses
- Diabetic Retinopathy Management and Care
- Macular Degeneration Management and Care
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Computer Vision
- Hyperopia
- Myopia Control
- Diabetic Eye Care
- Surgery Co-management
- Dry Eye Management and Care
Additional:
- Cosmetic Services
- Emergency Services
Comprehensive Eye Exams
At Eye Associates of Elkins Park, we offer comprehensive vision exams for our patients. These exams are thorough and ensure we completely understand your needs and can accurately prescribe a vision solution for you.
What to Expect
We will begin your comprehensive vision exam by taking a full patient history. Many eye and vision-related problems can be tied to other health conditions, so you should include not only your vision history but pertinent medical history as well, including conditions that run in your family.
Next, we will discuss any symptoms or problems you are experiencing. Your optometrist will use this information to get to the root of what’s causing the problem, as well as to determine if any additional tests are needed.
After we’ve gone over your history and symptoms, we will begin the preliminary testing of the following:
- Visual acuity
- Depth perception
- Color vision
- Peripheral vision
- Eye muscle movements
- Neurological responses
- Eye pressure
Additionally, we will complete a scan of your retina using Optos Digital Retinal Imaging. To perform this test, the doctor may need to dilate your eyes, which may make them more sensitive to light. The test is painless and allows us to see the early signs of eye diseases much earlier than ever before.
Once these portions of the comprehensive vision exam are complete, the doctor will move on to refraction, which is how your lens prescription is determined. At this time, we will also evaluate how well your eyes focus, move, and work together.
One of the final steps is to evaluate your overall eye health. We may cover things such as dry eyes, exposure to blue light, contact lens habits, and more.
Lastly, if the doctor feels there are any additional tests you need based on your medical history or the findings of the comprehensive exam, those will be completed. If needed, you may be referred to an appropriate specialist for further testing and treatment.
Cosmetic and Medically Necessary Contact Lenses
The field of optometry changes quickly, and now many more patients are able to enjoy the flexibility of wearing contact lenses to correct their vision.This allows us to schedule the extra time required for contact lens fitting or prescription updates.
Scheduling your general eye exam and your contact lens exam for the same visit will save you time and money. Performing these exams at different locations or with different optometrists can lead to repeated tests and additional fees.
Our contact lens exams include questions about your lifestyle and the various options available to you. There are a variety of contact lenses on the market that can be changed at different frequencies: daily, weekly, monthly. Rigid gas permeable (RGP or GP) contact lenses are an option that often provide sharper vision than traditional soft lenses. Bifocal contact lenses are an option to correct vision issues that develop with age (presbyopia). So is monovision, which is a special technique where one eye corrects for distance vision and the other eye corrects for near vision. Some contacts even allow you to change eye color.
Hard To Fit and Specialty Contact Lenses
Do you find wearing contact lenses impossible? Are your regular contacts painful or constantly uncomfortable? You are not alone. Due to a variety of factors such as individual eye shape, specific conditions, impairments, or the aftermath of surgery, some patients are considered to have more difficulty wearing contacts than others.
Here at Eye Associates of Elkins Park, we specialize in hard to fit contacts cases. We strive to provide the most comfortable and cost effective contact lens for each and every one of our patients. We begin with a specialized fitting to help determine the ideal match for your specific condition. The following conditions may qualify you as a candidate:
- Astigmatism
- Corneal Scarring
- Dry Eyes
- Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC)
- Keratoconus
- Post-LASIK or other refractive surgery
- Presbyopia (reduced near vision common in individuals ages 40 and over)
Some specialties of our office include Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP), also known as Gas Permeable (GP), lenses as well as scleral contact lenses.
Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses or Gas Permeable Lenses:
RGP lenses are effective for many hard to fit patients. The hard, oxygen permeable material lets the eye breathe and significantly reduces the chance of infection, due to protein deposits that tend to harbor bacteria on soft lenses. RGPs also hold in moisture under the lens to prevent the eyes from drying out.
RGPs are very effective for patients with keratoconus, a condition in which the cornea thins and bulges forward into a cone shape. Due to the nontraditional shape, standard contact lenses can be uncomfortable for you and can create blurred vision. These lenses assist in vision correction for keratoconus, which is often not possible with traditional soft lenses or even eyeglasses.
Scleral Contact Lenses:
Scleral contact lenses are large-scaled gas permeable lenses, mostly used for those patients who have an irregular cornea shape, including those with keratoconus. These are specifically designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the white portion of the eye, also known as the sclera. This allows for the lens to replace the irregular cornea shape with a perfectly smooth optical surface and correction of visual problems. Sizes of scleral lenses vary. The smallest sclerals are approximately 14.5 mm in diameter, and the largest can be up to 24 mm, whereas most traditional GP lenses are 9.0 to 9.5 mm and only cover 75% of the cornea. Because scleral lenses are designed to vault the corneal surface and rest on the less sensitive surface of the sclera, these lenses are often more comfortable for a person with keratoconus. In addition, scleral lenses are designed to fit with little or no lens movement during blinks, making them more stable on the eye, compared with traditional gas permeable lenses.
Scleral lenses are a good choice for not only patients with keratoconus, but also those experiencing difficulties after LASIK or any other corneal refractive surgery.
Diabetic Retinopathy Management and Care
Here at Eye Associates of Elkins Park, we are proud to help our patients who develop diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes comes with a lot of other problems, affecting your whole body. Even your eyes can become affected by the disease. It is so common that it actually has a name: diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the retina, which is involved in your vision. Your retina is necessary so that everything that you see is transferred to your brain.
Diabetic retinopathy usually continues to get worse, especially if your diabetes is not under control, though it can get worse even with controlled diabetes. For this reason, we recommend having regular check ups so that we can monitor your eyes. During the progression of the disease, you may not even notice any symptoms which makes it even more important to come in regularly.
The first stage of the disease involves the blood vessels in your eyes. They get really weak and leak blood into your eyes. If it continues and leaks into the center of your eye, you will have blurry vision. Your body will try to compensate by making new blood vessels but they are also weak, allowing more blood to leak into your eye. Your body might also try to form scar tissue which causes the retina to move away from your eyes and can lead to legal blindness.
Macular Degeneration Management and Care
Here at Eye Associates of Elkins Park, we are dedicated to caring for patients who have macular degeneration. Macular Degeneration is the loss of central vision due to damage to the retina. The macula is a part of the retina located on the back layer of the eye that affects the center of the visual field.
Macular degeneration is often related to age and can be atrophic (dry) or exudative (wet).
The dry form of macular degeneration is most common, and there is no medical or surgical treatment. It occurs when debris, which can cause scarring, collects between the retina and the choroid.
The wet form is less common, but more dangerous. It occurs when blood vessels that grow from behind the choroid leak into the eye. If it is diagnosed early, this form of macular degeneration can be treated with laser coagulation and medication.
Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults over 50. Common signs include gradually blurred vision, decreased perception of vivid colors, and an obstruction in the center of vision. While your peripheral vision may remain intact, macular degeneration can still make daily activities, such as reading or recognizing people’s faces, difficult.
As always, the sooner the disease is detected, the easier it is to treat. You are also less likely to lose your vision if you treat it promptly.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a leading cause of vision issues for people over 40 and are one of the main causes of blindness. A cataract is a clouding of the eye, specifically in the eye’s lens behind the pupil, caused by proteins clumping together. There are different kinds of cataracts, and they can have different causes. Aging or other medical conditions can contribute to the development of cataracts in your eyes.
Cataracts can start small and develop slowly. It may not even be noticeable at first, or you may notice a slight blur to your vision. You may only notice symptoms when looking at bright lights. Cataracts can continue to worsen, and you may only feel the effects once it is well developed.
There are many conditions or factors that can lead to cataracts. Regular eye exams and consultations with your optometrist are the best method of identifying cataracts. If cataracts have developed in your eyes, cataract surgery may be helpful to restore your vision. The surgery is generally successful and the clouded lens can be removed.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma describes eye disorders that involve damage to the optic nerve, which sends visual signals from your eye to your brain. This loss of nerve tissue can result in loss of vision.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common disorders. It results from an increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause damage to the optic nerve. A damaged nerve can lead to vision loss or even blindness. This pressure can build slowly and be difficult to detect in everyday life. It may start by affecting only your peripheral vision.
Pressure is not the only indicator of glaucoma, as high pressure does not always lead to glaucoma and glaucoma can develop in spite of normal eye pressure. Anyone can develop glaucoma, although it is most common in people over 40.
Acute angle closure glaucoma is not as common, but can develop much more quickly. If you are experiencing intense eye pain, redness in your eye, blurred vision, or nausea, you may need immediate medical attention. This form of glaucoma is an emergency and needs to be treated right away.
There is no way to completely prevent glaucoma, but early diagnosis and treatment can help control the condition and limit its effects. Often times medication or surgery can help reduce the damage, but glaucoma cannot be reversed. For this reason, at Eye Associates of Elkins Park we regularly test for glaucoma and recommend frequent eye exams. Factors such as age, race, family history, and previous medical conditions can all contribute to developing glaucoma.
At Eye Associates of Elkins Park, we use tonometry to measure the pressure inside your eye and pachymetry to measure corneal thickness. We also examine your field of vision and the retina of your eye.
Treatment for glaucoma may start with prescription eye drops that help manage the pressure in your eyes. Other treatments may include medication, surgery, or implants. Because treatment is ongoing, it is important that your optometrist detect any changes in your eye health. Regular eye exams are essential to managing glaucoma, which is a lifelong issue.
Computer Vision
Computer Vision is a relatively new term within the optometry field and refers to eye problems associated with the prolonged use of computers and electronics that use a digital screen. Although it can be temporary, there are times when computer vision can strain the eyes to a degree that permanently affects your vision as well. An existing eye condition can worsen as the eyes try to focus and adjust to a computer screen and precautions should be taken if you spend long hours in front of a computer screen. Some people with astigmatism will feel completely normal until they get in front of a computer and the condition seems to come back into play. Just as some people use glasses for driving at night there are glasses specifically designed for use with a computer.
Simple factors, such as proper lighting and posture, can make a big difference. Most people don’t realize how hard their eyes are working in front of a computer screen and preventive measures may sound obvious but are frequently overlooked or ignored. Adjusting the screen resolution or checking the brightness and contrast can instantly ease the tension on your eyes. Double check the screen settings for your computer and take breaks if you spend long hours in front of the computer as well. If you have been experiencing blurry vision, dry eyes, eye strain, headaches, neck or back pain, try adjusting the lighting, posture, and the distance in front of your computer screen. If computer vision symptoms persist, call us to set up a consultation and we can do a full diagnosis.
We will evaluate the best method in treating your digital eye strain so computer vision does not become an ongoing issue and lead to a bigger eye problem.
Hyperopia
Farsightedness, known as hyperopia, makes it difficult to see objects close by. If you are experiencing farsightedness, corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses will be prescribed. After a thorough examination, we will determine the prescription that’s best for you.
Myopia Control
Nearsightedness, known as myopia, makes it difficult to see objects from afar. If you are experiencing nearsightedness, corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses will be prescribed. After a thorough examination, we will determine the prescription that’s best for you.
Diabetic Eye Care
While it’s true that the primary symptom of diabetes is high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), it can lead to many other problems throughout the body, including wreaking havoc on your eyes. Some of the most common eye conditions caused by hyperglycemia are cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when the tiny blood vessels in your eyes become damaged by the high blood sugar levels over time.
If diabetes is well-managed, these secondary conditions can often be avoided altogether. Below are some helpful tips to help care for your eyes when you have diabetes:
- Keep blood sugar under control by maintaining a healthy diet low in sugar and refined carbohydrates and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
- Keep cholesterol in check by eating a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats
- See your optometrist at least once each year so that any developing eye conditions can be caught early and treated
- Have your A1c checked every few months, if possible, and try to keep it at or below 7%
- High blood pressure (hypertension) is also prevalent amongst those with diabetes and should be kept below 130/80 to prevent additional problems with your vision caused by damaged blood vessels
It is important to be aware of any changes to your vision. Contact your optometrist right away if you notice any of the following:
- Blurry vision
- Flashes of light
- Black spots or “floaters”
- Loss of sight in one or both eyes
Surgery Co-management
Eye Associates of Elkins Park has been assisting patients for years by helping them with clearer vision and healthier eyes. Our entire staff enjoys assisting others and makes sure that you never leave our office with unanswered questions.
We will begin with a comprehensive eye examination, which will let us know more about you and your needs. We may have to perform some testing to properly diagnose your eye conditions. During this time, the surgeon and staff will go over what you can expect before, during and after the procedure; we want to make sure to give you realistic answers for your unique vision.
The surgeons that we co-manage with are considered to be the very best, not only at what they do, but also in the area. We understand how important healthy eyes are and that is why we work with only the best!
Dry Eye Management and Care
Here at Eye Associates of Elkins Park, we are proud to offer dry eye treatment for our patients.
To keep your eyes healthy, you need to have tears to provide moisture and lubrication. This is not only for your comfort, but it helps with your vision. Tears are secreted by glands around your eyes. When you do not make enough tears, you have a condition called dry eyes.
There is no cure for dry eye. Instead, we have ways to make you more comfortable. There is a product called artificial tears. This comes in drops and ointments. Depending on your needs, one may work better for you.
We also perform temporary and non-dissolving punctal plugs. These are used to close the ducts that help with the overflow of tears. If you stop the tears from draining out of your eye, you will have more tears in your eyes. We start with a temporary one to see if it is going to help before trying a more permanent arrangement.
If necessary, we may also prescribe a medication for chronic dry eyes. We may also talk to you about other medications and your nutrition. Many supplements have been helpful for patients with dry eye.