A comprehensive eye exam is about far more than checking your vision. We assess the health of your eyes, screen for serious diseases, and detect early warning signs of systemic health conditions that may have no other symptoms.
Many serious eye conditions develop silently with no early warning signs. A comprehensive eye exam can detect them before they cause permanent vision loss. Beyond eye health, your exam can reveal signs of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other systemic conditions.
During your exam, we look for retinal bleeding, nerve damage, irregular blood vessels, and other indicators that alert us to serious health issues. Many patients learn about systemic conditions during a routine eye exam—before their primary care doctor finds them through other means.
We perform a series of specialized tests designed to evaluate every aspect of your vision and eye health. Your optometrist will select the appropriate tests based on your medical history and current needs.
Measures the sharpness of your vision at various distances using a standard eye chart.
A light beam is reflected off your retina to estimate your eyeglass prescription.
Determines your exact eyeglass prescription by testing different lens combinations.
Detects blind spots or peripheral vision loss that may indicate glaucoma.
Identifies eye diseases and conditions in the front structures of your eye.
Measures eye pressure to screen for glaucoma and monitor eye health.
High-resolution images document the back of your eye for screening diabetic retinopathy.
Examines your optic nerve, retina, and blood vessels in detail.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends different schedules based on age and risk factors. We’ll work with you to determine the ideal frequency for your situation.
At 6 months, age 3, school entry, then every 2 years until age 18. Early detection is critical for developing vision.
Every 1–2 years for regular eye health monitoring. Annual exams recommended if you wear contacts or have risk factors.
Annual exams are strongly recommended. Age significantly increases risk for glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
If you have diabetes, hypertension, or family eye disease history, we may recommend annual or more frequent exams.
Understanding the exam process helps you feel confident and prepared. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect at your appointment.
We'll start by reviewing your medical history, current medications, family eye disease history, and any vision concerns you've noticed. This helps us understand your unique risk factors and tailor the exam accordingly.
You'll read letters on an eye chart to measure how clearly you see at various distances. We'll check each eye separately and together. This test determines if you need glasses and helps establish a baseline for your vision.
We shine a light into your eyes and observe the reflection from your retina. This provides an initial estimate of your eyeglass prescription and helps guide the next test.
Using a special device called a phoropter, we show you a series of lens options and ask which makes your vision clearer. This fine-tunes your exact prescription. You'll hear the familiar phrase: "Is this one better? Or this one?"
You'll look into a machine and press a button whenever you see a light appear in your peripheral vision. This detects blind spots that may indicate glaucoma or other conditions affecting peripheral sight.
A slit lamp is a specialized microscope that allows us to examine the front of your eye—cornea, iris, and lens—under magnification. We can detect cataracts, corneal abrasions, and other front-of-eye conditions.
We measure your eye pressure using a gentle touch or a small puff of air. Elevated pressure is a key indicator of glaucoma risk and requires monitoring or treatment.
We take high-resolution digital photos of the back of your eye. These images document your retina and help us screen for diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other retinal conditions. They also allow us to track changes over time.
Using a special lens and light, we examine your optic nerve, retina, and blood vessels in detail. This reveals signs of diseases like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment.
In some cases, we use dilating eye drops to widen your pupils for a more thorough view of the back of your eye. Your pupils will remain dilated for a few hours afterward, and your eyes may be more sensitive to light—bring sunglasses if this step is needed.
At the end of the exam, Dr. Foley will review all findings with you in detail. We'll explain any vision changes, eye health status, and recommendations for treatment, lifestyle adjustments, or follow-up care. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your eye health and next steps.
A comprehensive eye exam provides your eyeglass prescription and assesses your overall eye health. However, a contact lens fitting requires additional measurements and testing beyond a standard comprehensive exam.
Contact lenses require specific measurements of your cornea's curvature and diameter, plus tear film evaluation—tests not included in a basic comprehensive exam.
Let us know when you schedule if you need both services. We'll coordinate your appointments to make scheduling convenient.
Some patients schedule their comprehensive exam first, then book a contact lens fitting appointment separately once they know they need contacts.
Dr. Foley brings over 20 years of experience and advanced diagnostic skills to every exam.
We use modern diagnostic equipment for precise measurements and early disease detection.
We evaluate your complete eye health, not just your vision, looking for disease and systemic conditions.
Dr. Foley explains findings in plain language so you understand your eye health status and recommendations.
We tailor exams to your age, health history, and risk factors for maximum relevance and value.
We accept most major insurance plans and work with you on payment options and coverage questions.
To maximize your exam and ensure we have all the information we need, please prepare in advance:
If you wear glasses, bring them so we can use them as a baseline for comparison.
Write down all medications and supplements you're taking—many affect vision and eye health.
Mention any vision changes, eye discomfort, flashes of light, floaters, or dry eyes since your last visit.
Tell us about diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, or family history of eye disease.
Allow 45 minutes to an hour for your comprehensive exam. Arrive 10 minutes early to complete any paperwork.
Have your health insurance information ready so we can verify coverage and benefits.
Request an appointment online or give us a call — we’ll confirm your insurance coverage before your visit.
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9:00am – 6:00pm
9:00am – 6:00pm
9:00am – 6:00pm
9:00am – 6:00pm
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