Eye Exams

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but they can also tell you a lot about your health. Routine eye exams can protect your vision and alert you to underlying problems like diabetes. At I & B Medical Associates, the team of primary care specialists provides eye exams and treats a wide range of vision-related issues, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. To make an appointment, call the office in Miami, Florida, or book online today.

What is an eye exam?

An eye exam is a routine checkup that assesses the health of your eyes and the surrounding tissues. During an eye exam, your I & B Medical Associates provider uses special tools to look at the various parts of your eye and conducts several tests to determine your risk of vision loss and other health problems.

It’s important to undergo eye exams even if your vision seems normal because many conditions, including glaucoma and cataracts, don’t present obvious symptoms early on.

How often should I schedule an eye exam?

The team at I & B Medical Associates recommends you schedule an eye exam once every two years. More frequent checkups might be necessary if you have a family history of eye disease or an underlying health problem that increases your risk of vision problems, like diabetes.

What happens during an eye exam?

At I & B Medical Associates, an eye exam features several tests, including:

Visual acuity

During a visual acuity test, your provider has you read letters and numbers off of a chart on the other side of the exam room. They also cover either eye and ask you to look through several lenses to determine which ones make your vision sharper. 

Visual field

During a visual field test, your provider holds up their index finger or a pen and asks you to follow it with your eyes. They slowly move it up and down and from one side to the other to assess your field of vision.

Corneal topography

During corneal topography, your provider creates a digital map of your cornea with a computer. The test determines if your cornea has an abnormal curve, a common cause of blurry vision (astigmatism).

Slit-lamp test

Before a slit-lamp test, your provider dilates your pupils with special eye drops. Then, they use a light and lenses to look at the structures at the back of your eye, including the retina.

What types of problems can eye exams diagnose?

The team at I & B Medical Associates uses eye exams to diagnose a wide range of vision problems, including:

• Refractive errors, like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism
• Changes in vision
• Problems with the muscles that support the eyes
• Tumors
• Eye cancer
• Autoimmune disorders
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes

Eye exams can even alert your provider to heart-related health problems, like high cholesterol and arterial disease.

If it’s been more than two years since your last eye exam, make an appointment at I & B Medical Associates by calling the office or booking online today.