A woman receives an eye exam

Eye Exams in Ottawa

 Laurier Optical – Innes Rd. in Orleans

Get a complete routine eye exam for $90.00!

Some tests may have additional costs associated

Digital Retinal Image Exam ($30.00) – Click “Read More Benefits” for the benefits of getting this type of Highly recommended exam for your eyes, by our professional optometrists

 

If you are wondering is retinal imaging necessary, here are some ways this eye exam can benefit you:

1. Only takes a few seconds

The digital retinal imaging is a quick process as the retinal imaging machine takes only a few seconds to capture images of your retina.

2. Painless

As the process only involves capturing a digital image of the eye, there is no pain or discomfort.

3. Digital retinal imaging vs dilation

Dilation is a process where your eye doctor will place some eye drops to dilate your eyes so that he/she can visualize your retina with a magnifying glass and bright light. These drops also cause blurring of the vision for a few hours. Digital retinal imaging is superior to overdilation and examination as it does not require this step of dilation at all and saves you the extra time spent. While dilation only allows your eye doctor to see up to 15% of your eye, digital imaging increases this range to up to 80%, which also improves the diagnosis.

4. Detects certain eye diseases/health conditions

Digital retinal imaging is necessary to detect and follow up on certain diseases of the eye like.

Glaucoma: It a condition where the fluid slowly builds up in the front of your eyes, increasing the pressure and damaging the optic nerve, leading to vision loss.

Macular degeneration: In this condition, your eyesight worsens with age due to degeneration of the parts of the eye, which may eventually lead to loss of vision. Retinal imaging is very important to detect this early.

Changes to the eye due to diabetes: Diabetes may cause changes to the blood vessels in the eyes over time, which can damage vision. This is called as diabetic retinopathy.

Retinal imaging may sometimes be able detect signs of a stroke.

5. No side effects

There are no digital retinal photography side effects. Unlike traditional methods, there is no temporary blurring of vision or light sensitivity. You can easily drive back yourself home/destiation after the test.

It improves the precision and accuracy of testing the eyes.

6. Fees for this type of exam are usually covered by most insurance/benefit plans

Check with your own benefits provider.

Simply put, it improves the precision and accuracy of testing the eyes.

Routine eye exams are at the forefront of your eye care plan. They are recommended for adults every 1 to 2 years. Adults over the age of 65 are also covered by OHIP once every 12 months. Providing eye wear is merely one component in overall vision health. There are many conditions that affect vision and often times the patient’s focus is more on the symptoms, rather than on the condition itself. Our Optometrists at Innes Eye Clinc are trained to diagnose the underlying causes and to ensure a full scope of eye and vision healthcare, to refer patients to other healthcare providers if needed.

What is an Eye Exam?

An eye exam is more than just an eye chart – it is a comprehensive exam and detailed examination of your visual ability, vision and eye health. This examination is defined in regulation under Ontario’s Health Insurance Act as:

1. Relevant History (ocular medical history, past medical history, family history)

In this step, your optometrist will assess your past and current medical history, and the medical history within your family, in order to determine your risk factors for certain eye health conditions and overall health conditions that may affect your eyes. Your ocular history – incidences of eye conditions, prescriptions, eye wear, work with any other eye doctors, etc – will also be assessed.

2. Visual Acuity Examination

As a baseline, your optometrist will examine your visual acuity by means of an eye chart. The placement, sizing and gradations on the eye chart will help your optometrist gauge your current visual acuity (the clearness of your vision).

3. Ocular Motility Examination

In order to determine how well your eyes and visual system function in terms of movement, reflexes and tracking, your optometrist will conduct a number of motility tests to determine if there are any underlying problems with your ocular motility that may need remediation, or be symptomatic of other physiological or neurological conditions.

4. Refraction and the Provision of a Written Refractive Prescription if Required

As part of this step, a phoropter or similar device can be used to determine rate of refractive error and determine the standards and measurements needed to inform a prescription for eyeglasses if one is needed. A series of lenses and settings are used to assess refractive error in your vision and define any corrective prescription.

5. Slit Lamp Examination of the Anterior Segment (Biomicroscopy)

A slit lamp is used to shine a high intensity light into the eye to facilitate an examination of the anterior segment of the human eye – including the conjunctiva, iris, natural crystalline lens and the cornea. The binocular slit-lamp examination provides a stereoscopic magnified view of the eye structures in detail, enabling anatomical diagnoses to be made for a variety of eye conditions.

6. Ophthalmoscopy by one of Direct, Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope, Monocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope or Non Contact Fundus Lens

Ophthalmoscopy is a test that allows your optometrist to see inside the fundus of the eye and other structures (including the retina, optic disc, macula and fovea). This is conducted to help detect symptoms of conditions such as retinal detachment or glaucoma.

7. Advice or Instruction to the Patient

Pending your individual needs for care and follow-up, your optometrist will provide advice and/or referrals on a case by case basis. At this time, your optometrist will also advise you on how often to return for an eye exam.

Additional Services for which fees will apply

Contact lens fittings and teaches.
Additional fees may apply for additional services or tests.
Forms filled out by doctors.
Digital Retinal Image Exam ($30.00) – Highly recommended by our professional optometrists

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