Examinations

Comprehensive Eye Examinations

There is more to an eye examination than just correcting your vision. As they say, "your eyes are the window to your soul"...and to the overall health of your body. When you are examined at SVC, you will receive the most comprehensive and thorough exam you've ever had. We perform all necessary testing to make your vision as clear as possible and to make sure your eye health is assessed as thoroughly as possible. Part of this complete exam is the DILATION. When we dilate your eyes, we can examine the whole back of the eye (central and peripheral retina, blood vessels, and optic nerve). These are areas of the eye that we are not able to see with your eyes in their normal state.

We know how closely the health of your eyes relates to your overall health. Many diseases reveal their earliest signs in the eyes. And, as with all health conditions, the sooner the condition is detected, the sooner treatment can be started, and the better the outcome.

General Health
Below is a short list of the most common health problems and their corresponding signs in the eyes that Drs. Berke and Ryan check for at every exam:

	Irregular blood vessels, hemorrhages (small areas of bleeding), and deposits on the retina could be early signs of high blood pressure.
Early signs of diabetes include hemorrhages and yellow deposits on the retina. Unstable blood sugar levels can lead to temporary blurred vision and eventually retinal problems and permanent loss of vision. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable vision loss in patients over the age of 50.
	Headaches may be caused by many things. One of these is eyestrain from an old glasses prescription. Most times, a simple change in prescription may be all you need to have comfortable, headache-free vision.
Changes or blockages in the blood vessels, and/or abnormal visual field testing results could indicate the risk of an impending stroke.
	Frequently, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are conditions that exist together, increasing your risk of heart disease. Changes or blockages of the blood vessels on the retina or cholesterol deposits on the cornea could warn of high cholesterol.
Multiple Sclerosis is a condition that can cause double vision, vision loss, and uncoordinated or unintentional eye movements in the early stages. There may also be signs of inflammation of the optic nerve.

Eye Health
As you are aware, the eyes are susceptible to several diseases themselves. At every exam, we perform screening tests and evaluate risk factors for conditions such as:

Glaucoma is a condition where the internal eye pressures rise because of a breakdown in regulation of fluid. If left unchecked for too long, the increased pressures can cause retinal nerve cells to die and a progressive vision loss can occur. Early recognition is vital to prevent or stop loss of sight. This disease can be very dangerous because there generally no symptoms - you can have glaucoma and start to lose vision without even realizing it.

Cataracts are very common and will occur in all of us if we live long enough. They occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy and thus, your vision is decreased. The lens eventually must be removed and replaced with a prosthetic lens. Cataract surgery is a very slick one. It is one of the most performed surgeries today. Patient discomfort is minimal and outcomes are usually very good.

So even if you aren't having any problems with your vision, it is very important to have a regular annual exam to make sure your eyes are healthy. This is especially true if you have any immediate family members who have eye diseases, or if you are over the age of 40. Don't wait until you have a problem. Make an appointment today. But, if you do have a problem with a red eye or any other eye problem, please call us so that we can treat you right away. We can easily treat most problems with prescription medicine.