The examination normally begins with taking a detailed history of any eye or medical conditions and noting any ocular problem or difficulties you may be having. Anything said within the consulting room or practice is treated with strictest confidence. Nothing will be disclosed even to immediate relatives without your prior consent. Some systemic drugs may have an ocular side effect so it is important to remember or bring a list of any drugs you are taking.

The eye is the only place in the body where blood vessels are clearly visible and so when an Optometrist looks into your eyes both ocular and systemic problems or diseases may be evident. Signs of diabetes or hypertension may have their first indication from an eye examination.

Glaucoma, and in very rare instances, eye or brain tumours can all manifest themselves in the visual system.

We have various tools to aid in our diagnosis. Tonometers measure the pressure within the eye. The most common form of tonometer used is when a "puff" of air is blown onto the cornea (front of the eye). This can aid in the detection or monitoring of glaucoma. The measuring of the ability to see in the peripheral part of the retina is conducted using a visual field analyser. Using our state of the art digital camera to take a digital photograph of the back of the eye is very useful, as any changes that occur can easily be detected, observed or monitored.

Examination of the structures nearer the front surface of the eye, the lens, cornea and eyelids may require the use of other instruments or microscopes. Again digital photography can give us excellent records.

You may be developing a cataract and when this has reached the stage where your vision is impaired we may suggest it is time to be removed.

We may wish to refer you to an Ophthalmologist, usually via your G.P., for further investigations. We will always discuss this with you.

It is very important to have regular eye examinations. The Optometrist will advise you of the interval before we will recall you, but remember that if you experience any problems or difficulties before that period you can always phone or call into the practice for advice or may be an early re-test.

Examining children or babies

The ability to read a form of letter chart is a very small part of an eye examination and is used mainly to confirm a prescription. For the very young, or if the mental state makes this impossible or unreliable, then accurate results can be obtained from other tests. An Optometrist should see all young children. In their formative years we can encourage the proper development of the visual system, generally with greater success the younger we detect any visual problem.

Access

The practice is designed for easy wheel chair access and parking may be possible on our forecourt. If you are infirm and unable to get to the practice then we can arrange a home visit.