Services

Different Eye Exams For Different Stages Of Life

Your eyes change and develop, just as the rest of you does, throughout your lifetime. This means that our evaluations must accommodate the specific needs of each stage of life. In small children, for instance, we emphasize evaluations of eye health and function, since any impediments to eye-brain coordination at this stage could have a lasting impact on visual development, ease of learning, physical coordination and school performance. We perform key pediatric exams at 6 months, 3 tears, and 5 to 6 years of age. Older kids and adults should ideally have annual eye and vision exams to help us catch and correct problems as early as possible. Seniors may need even more frequent exams if they’re currently struggling with age-related issues such as cataracts or macular degeneration.

Why Annual Eye Exams Matter

You may be wondering why most healthy adults should have annual eye and vision exams, even in the absence of any vision loss or other symptoms. The frightening fact is that eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration can do progressive, irreversible damage very gradually — over such a long period of time that you don’t notice any dramatic changes in your vision. By the time symptoms drive you to see our optometrist in Montgomery, TX , you may have already suffered permanent vision loss. Annual exams make it easy for us to detect problems as they’re just beginning, giving us the chance to stop or slow them through early treatment.

What To Expect From Your Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye and vision exam covers every aspect of your ocular health and wellness. Just as you might expect from a general physical exam, our eye exam includes a review of your medical history and discussion of any symptoms or vision changes you may have been experiencing. We will then proceed to the three major stages of the exam:

• Eye function testing– A series of tests can show us how well your eyes are focusing, tracking and teaming, as well as how rapidly you can respond to visual signals. Our optometrist in Montgomery, TX can also evaluate your peripheral vision, color vision, eye alignment, and eye dominance.
• Eye health testing– Dilating your pupils allows us to see large portions of the interior of each eye, including the blood vessels, optic nerve, and retina. This is an invaluable technique for catching lurking eye diseases. We can also use a slit lamp to examine the front of each eye in close detail. Measurements of your eyes’ internal fluid pressure can alert us to potential glaucoma.
• Vision testing– The standard eye chart used for vision testing displays lines of text in multiple sizes. By reading these lines as best you can, we can see whether you’re having problems with specific distances. We can then have you read the lines again, adjusting lens settings on a phoropter until we have your corrective lens prescription.

Let Clara Vista Eyecare Protect Your Eyesight

Let Clara Vista Eyecare protect your eyesight for many years to come. Call (936) 220-4313 today to schedule an eye exam!

What Is Computer Vision Syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome is caused by focusing too intently on a screen for too long a time. Despite its name, computer vision syndrome isn’t just caused by computers – any digital device with a screen, including TVs and smartphones, can cause this type of eyestrain. Factors that contribute to the development of computer vision include:
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• The light emitted by the screen
• Any glare on the screen’s surface
• Your posture as you use the device
• How closely you are looking at the device

Could You Have Computer Vision Syndrome?

In this day and age, most people have experienced eyestrain related to using electronic devices. And if you use your devices heavily on a daily basis, whether for your job or simply for entertainment, your risk for computer vision syndrome goes up. The most common symptoms include:

• Feelings of dryness or grit in the eyes
• Feeling like your eyes are burning or sore
• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Upper back pain
• Blurry vision

How Can An Optometrist Help With Computer Vision Syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome often goes away by itself if you stop using electronic devices so frequently. Taking breaks every 20 to 30 minutes to stretch and rest your eyes can also help you avoid the most annoying symptoms of CVS. However, not everyone can get away from the computer screen so easily, especially those who use computers to work. If cutting back on computer time isn’t an option for you, an optometrist can help by prescribing you special glasses to reduce your eye strain while you work. Your optometrist can also examine your eyes to find out whether you might have another vision condition, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, which could be making your eye strain worse when you’re at the computer.

Types Of Glaucoma:

Primary open-angle glaucoma- by far the most common type, this glaucoma develops gradually as drainage slows. It does not display symptoms of the damage that is taking place until a significant portion of vision has been lost. Also known as chronic glaucoma, this type affects between three and four million Americans.

Angle-closure glaucoma- happens when the drainage angle in the eye abruptly closes, causing a sudden increase in the IOP. This pressure causes acute pain and vision loss and is a medical emergency. Although only one eye may suffer this acute attack, the other eye may also be at risk.

Secondary glaucoma- damage from diabetes or hypertension, a history of eye injury, or the use of corticosteroids can lead to the development of secondary glaucoma.

Low-tension (normal-tension) glaucoma- in this type of glaucoma, the eye pressure is not elevated but the optic nerve still becomes damaged. The cause is unknown.

Do you think your child may be struggling with vision issues? Children that have eye problems may show signs or symptoms that could help in early diagnosis. Among the common symptoms that may indicate vision problems, you might notice:

• Struggling to meet milestones in coordination (walking, crawling, grabbing, fine motor activities)
• Poor performance in school
• A difficulty in paying attention
• Trouble seeing details from a distance
• Headaches or eye pain
• Blurry or double vision

An annual eye exam may be all your child needs. However, if you do notice vision problems, then you will want to visit an eye care professional for an immediate examination. If immediate family members wear glasses, you will also want to ensure that you visit an eye doctor for an early exam. Your child may struggle with meeting milestones and developing in a typical timeframe if there is a vision problem that is not addressed. While uncommon, some babies need glasses to correct their vision at a young age.

Common Children’s Vision Problems Screened

Problems screened by your optometrist can uncover eye issues before they cause serious damage or inhibit your child’s growth.
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Lazy Eye
Amblyopia is a poor vision problem typically called “lazy eye” that may not be apparent. If this is not treated during childhood, the amblyopia may lead to a permanent loss of vision or impairment of the eye.

Cross-Eyed
Strabismus leads to eyes that wander or do not aim at the same subject. Often, patching the properly aligned eye will force the misaligned eye to work harder. Sometimes, specially designed glasses or even surgery may be needed to properly address the issue.

Refractive Errors
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are common examples of errors that occur when the eye is incorrectly shaped. Each of these problems are typically treated with glasses, which may stop the vision problem from causing headaches and give the patient perfect or near-perfect vision when he or she wears them.

What You Can Expect At Clara Vista Eyecare

As your optometrist in Montgomery, TX , you can schedule appointments for the whole family with our office. We want you and your child to feel comfortable for your entire visit. After being warmly welcomed and checked in, a member of our team will examine the muscles and responsiveness of the eye. Your child’s eyes will be checked for proper reflection, focal ability, and individual eye shifting. Finally, your child will be tested with age-appropriate visual accuracy testing. You may be asked questions about your child’s habits so your provider can get a better feel for the state of your child’s vision. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about vision or optical health.

We would like to help your family with any vision needs or concerns you may have. If you or your child needs glasses, we would love to show you our wide selection of name brand frames for a wide variety of styles and budgets. Schedule your child’s next eye Exam with our Clara Vista Eyecare optometrist today. Call (936) 220-4313 to learn more.

Contrast sensitivity

Contrast sensitivity is all about being able to see objects against a background. We don’t play every game on a sunny day. We don’t always have the greatest lighting. Dr. Greene and Dr. Ross can prescribe corrective lenses with specific tints to increase your contrast sensitivity.

Tracking

Can you keep your eye on the ball? To do that, your eyes need good tracking ability. We have tests to see how well your eyes follow objects. We can also give you recommendations on how to train your eyes to follow the motion.

Ocular alignment

Did you ever wonder why your doctor of optometry asks you to cover one eye and then over the other eye and then asks you to you look at things with both eyes open at the same time? The doctor is seeing how your eyes respond to a stimulus individually and then how well they how they respond to the same stimulus together.

And how about that test where the doctor shines the bright light in your eye? What’s that about? Called the Hirschberg test, this essential test for every eye care consultation is also about ocular alignment. Your doctor is looking at where the light falls on your cornea. If you have one eye that looks inward or outward or up or down rather than straight ahead, then the doctor can prescribe corrections so that your eyes are aligned together.

Eye dominance

There’s another test in which the doctor of optometry asks you to look at an object as it’s brought closer to your face. The eye that loses focus last is your dominant eye. If the non-dominant eye loses focus too soon, then you may have problems with your binocular vision. These problems can be corrected with a lens prescription.
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Depth perception

Every athlete needs to know how close or far away objects and other players are on the court or field. Several methods of testing depth perception and corresponding problem correction are available at your eye care office.

Age-Related Eye Diseases

The most well known age-related eye disease is macular degeneration. This is a non-curable condition, but treatments are available to slow its progression. The main concern with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is that there are no obvious symptoms other than vision loss. By the time you have lost your vision to AMD, you cannot reverse the condition. We recommend getting an annual eye exam to test for macular degeneration and begin treatment, if needed, to slow down the vision loss.

Glaucoma tends to be an age-related eye disease because it advances with age until you lose your vision permanently. In fact, glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness. While the disease cannot be cured, with early detection we can begin a treatment regimen that slows its progression.

Ocular Diseases And Health Conditions

If you have certain health issues, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, then you are more prone to certain ocular diseases. In the case of diabetes, you could suffer from diabetic macular edema or diabetic retinopathy. Both of these ocular diseases are highly damaging and cannot be cured. However, with early detection and proper management of our optometrist in [dm-cityarea] can help protect your eyes from vision loss.

Dry Eye Condition

For individuals who use a digital screen, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone, on a regular basis there is a condition called dry eye. With dry eye, your eyes suffer from lack of tears or inability to control moisture. This is common among people who use digital screens with blue light for more than eight hours a day. Fortunately, we offer dry eye treatment at Clara Vista Eyecare.

Treatment And Care Of Ocular Diseases

The best way to protect your eyes and vision against the adverse effects of the ocular disease is by getting a routine eye exam. When you visit Clara Vista Eyecare for a comprehensive vision test and eye exam, we can detect and diagnose any eye diseases at the earliest onset. In most instances, early detection is the greatest advantage you can have toward treatment. Additionally, if you are likely to suffer from certain ocular diseases, such as due to genetics or health problems, we can offer preventative care.​​​​​​​

Most Common Types Of Eye Injury

The most common types of eye injury we treat and prevent at our clinic include:

• Blows to the eye (can lead to a black eye or in more severe cases orbital fracture or eyeball rupture
• Corneal abrasions (scratches on the eye, often due to sand, dust, and other small debris)
• Traumatic iritis (inflammation of the iris following some sort of poke or blow to the eye)
• Chemical burns
• Foreign object penetration (e.g., small shards of metal or wood)
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage (eye-bleeding that occurs when the blood vessels in the whites of your eyes break and leaks fluid)

What To Do If You Have An Eye Injury

All serious types of eye injury should require a trip to the emergency room (do NOT attempt to treat yourself, e.g., remove a penetrating foreign object). Call 911 immediately or arrange a ride to the ED as soon ASAP.

In all cases, do NOT touch nor rub your injured eye!

For minor eye injuries, feel free to give our team a call for more specific guidance. Certain injuries may benefit from flushing out the eye with cool water (such as chemical burns) or lightly covering with a gauze pad or cool compress, but specific steps will vary.

Wear contact lenses? Chances are, you won’t be able to tolerate wearing your contacts as your eye heals—indeed, wearing contacts could even increase the risk of complications such as delayed healing and infections. In this case, you may need to wear eyeglasses until your eyes regain their full health. Our optometry team can fit you for an updated prescription!

Tips To Avoid Eye Injury From Our Clara Vista Eyecare Team

Most types of eye injuries are preventable—at the very least, you can reduce your risk of injury by taking some simple precautions:

• Always wear protective eyewear as indicated by your occupational, athletic, or household activity (this may include goggles and face masks or shields).
• Realize that regular eyeglasses do not suffice for adequate protection!
• Get regular eye exams to ensure no other underlying vision or eye problems are at play.

What Causes Blurry Vision?

A number of different factors can lead to blurry vision that makes your everyday tasks more difficult.

• Worsening nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
• Dry eye problems
• Eye diseases, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy
• Injury to the eyes
• Medical conditions, such as diabetes

Diagnosing Vision Problems

Your eye doctor will ask questions about your health and do a comprehensive examination of your eyes, including the internal structures. These tests can provide important information about visual acuity, eye pressure and the general health of your eyes. The optometrist can provide corrective lenses or discuss eye problems that require additional treatment. If your eye doctor can find no significant eye problem, you may be referred to your physician for further investigation of the issue.

Treatment Of Blurred Vision

Your optometrist can provide a change of prescription for your eyeglasses or contact lens that will facilitate good vision. If dry eye syndrome is the cause of your blurriness, the doctor can provide prescription eye drops or other treatments to help moisturize the surface of the eyes. Age-related eye disease, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, need careful monitoring to ensure eye health. If cataracts have developed, your optometrist can refer you to an eye surgeon.

Pinkeye

Even eye doctors use this term, but it is actually a word that can describe any eye infection that turns the whites of the eyes pink. Conjunctivitis is another term for this type of infection. Both refer to some of the hallmark signs of this type of infection. It turns the eye pink, and it affects the conjunctiva – the moist membrane that covers the outside of the eyeball and the insides of the eyelids.

Sties

A stye is an infection of the eyelid. It typically presents as a pimple or boil at or near the edge of the lid. These can annoy you by sticking out into your field of vision or by scraping your eyeball when you blink. Pain ranges from none to significant, depending on factors like stye size, the infectious agent involved, and the precise location on the eyelid.

Keratitis

This infection affects the cornea and often attacks contact lens wearers. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or even water-borne parasites.

Uveitis

The uvea is the central part of your eye, and an infection here is called uveitis. The risk of getting it is increased if you have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or another inflammatory disease.

Fungal Infections

It’s rare for the eye to be infected with fungus, but when it happens, it can be very serious. Often, the fungi get into the eye through a scratch or poke from a thorn or other contaminated plant part. They can also enter along with other contaminated items, such as improperly cleaned contact lenses or unsterile eye drops. To reduce the risk of infection, always make sure your eye care products are clean before putting them in your eyes.

Symptoms Of Eye Infections

Regardless of the organisms causing the infection, there are common symptoms to look out for. These include:

• Discharge from the eye that is especially copious and forms a glue-like crust overnight
• Discharge that is an unhealthy color, such as green or white
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• Pink eye whites
• Pain
• A pimple on the eyelid, whether visible or felt by touch
• Watery eyes
• Blurry vision

Not all infections produce every listed symptom. In fact, it’s fairly rare to get them all. However, pain, redness or pinkness, and general eye discomfort are all very common indicators.
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What To Do If You Suspect You Have An Eye Infection

If you think you have an eye infection, you should see your optometrist in Montgomery, TX right away. While it’s true that many cases of pinkeye will go away on their own within a few days, it’s also possible that a sight-threatening microbe has taken hold. Going to the eye doctor will result in an educated diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. Even if it does turn out to be a case of normal pinkeye, the doctor can give you eye drops or other medications to reduce discomfort as it heals.

Symptoms And Causes Of Eye Strain

Eye strain has several symptoms and causes to look for if you think you have this condition. Reasons that individuals can develop eye strain are focused on tedious visual tasks. Computer work, reading, or other visually straining activities, particularly those that carry on for hours at a time, are often the cause of eye strain. You may also have eye strain due to another medical condition or the use of certain medications.

Signs that you have the eye condition of eye strain include eye fatigue, blurred vision, double vision, headaches, or pain in and of the eyes. You may also have dry, red, or itchy eyes after doing activities that lead to eye strain. If you feel that you have this eye condition seek help from your optometrist at Clara Vista Eyecare.​​​​​​​

Eye Strain Treatment

Here at your Clara Vista Eyecare optometrist, we provide effective eye strain treatment. We typically begin with lifestyle advice if you are suffering from eye strain due to a specific issue, such as digital device use. You will need to make certain changes in your viewing habits in order to help treat eye strain.

If you have an underlying medical condition related to eye strain we will also provide treatments or referrals for these issues. You may be prescribed with eye exercises to help your eyes reduce strain if you are unable to change your lifestyle, i.e. you use a computer for your job.

What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that occurs with aging that affects the macula, a part of the retina that controls visual acuity. It is a progressive condition that worsens over time if left untreated. Treatment is most effective when caught in the early stages, which is why regular exams by your Montgomery, TX optometrist are so critical.

AMD Has Two Forms

Age-related macular degeneration is found in two different forms. The “dry” form of the disease is most common and causes deposits of proteins, called “drusen,” which block normal vision. The “wet” form of the disease causes increased growth of blood vessels that can leak fluid and blood into the eyes.

Treatment Of AMD

Although there is no current cure for AMD, treatment can help to slow the progress of the disease. The “dry” form of AMD can be treated with nutritional supplements can provide additional support for eye tissues. The “wet” form is treated with medications and with laser surgery to prevent damage from the abnormal blood vessel growth.

Causes And Prevention Of AMD

A number of factors are associated with the development of macular degeneration. Age is one of the factors, but family history also can increase your risk for developing the condition. Some evidence indicates that individuals who eat large amounts of saturated fat and those who are obese are at greater risk for the disease. Caucasians are at higher risk than other demographic groups. If you smoke cigarettes, you are also increasing your risk for AMD. You can lower your risk for AMD by avoiding smoking, managing your weight and seeing your eye doctor regularly to maintain eye health. A healthy diet that contains nutrients that support eye health is also recommended.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

About one-third of the estimated 285 million people around the world living with diabetes are believed to have diabetic retinopathy. It’s considered one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when blood vessels behind the retina (a thin tissue on the inner rear eye that contains cells to help you see) become damaged and leaky. This blood vessel damage occurs from high levels of sugar in the blood (a hallmark of diabetes); sugar is inflammatory and toxic to tissues and organs.

As diabetic retinopathy progresses, new blood vessels may grow behind the retina as compensation for damaged ones, which can lead to further fluid leakage and retinal damage.

Signs Of Diabetic Retinopathy

There aren’t signs of diabetic retinopathy early on in the disease process (but it can still be detected at this stage on a dilated eye exam). When retinal damage is severe enough, common symptoms will include:

• Floaters or flashers in your line of sight
• The blurry vision which may fluctuate
• Blind spots
• Difficulty seeing colors or seeing at nighttime

How An Optometrist In Montgomery, TX Treats Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy can’t be cured, but with proper eye care services and diabetes disease management, the progression of the condition can be better controlled. If you work with an optometrist in Montgomery, TX for treatment of your diabetic retinopathy, you can expect the following services:

• Dilated eye exam to observe inner and outer eye anatomy and vision (these will be needed more regularly compared to people without diabetes, so we can closely monitor the progression of your disease)
• Pre- and post-operative management if you require procedures such as photocoagulation (to stop the growth of leaking blood vessels), vitrectomy (which removes blood-filled fluids from the eye), or medicated eye injections
• Updated prescription eyewear and low vision strategies to compensate for existing and progressing vision loss

Do You Have Diabetic Retinopathy? Schedule Your Next Eye Exam At Clara Vista Eyecare Today!

Contact Clara Vista Eyecare in Montgomery, TX now at (936) 220-4313 to schedule an eye exam and diabetic retinopathy screening for you or a loved one. Our diagnostic and therapeutic services support optimal eyesight at any age!

What Causes Low Vision?

There are a number of eye diseases and conditions that can result in low vision. These include:

• Macular degeneration: A condition that affects the macula, which is the area of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. This condition progresses relatively slowly, and in the advanced stages, a large blind spot in your central vision can occur.
• Retinitis pigmentosa: This condition causes a gradual decrease in your night vision. It can also severely impair your side vision. In time, it can result in complete vision impairment.
• Glaucoma: Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve due to increased eye pressure. This condition can cause a loss of peripheral vision and night vision. Over time, it can cause tunnel vision.
• Retinal detachment: A retinal detachment occurs when the retina separates from its underlying layer. It is caused by eye trauma, serious infections, blood vessel disturbance, and tumors. A detached retina can surgically be repaired. In some cases, the vision can be restored. In others, low vision is possible.
• Diabetes: Vision loss is one of the complications associated with diabetes.
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How Is Low Vision Diagnosed?

Low vision can be diagnosed during the visual acuity portion of your eye exam. If low vision is suspected, your optometrist will perform testing using special lighting, magnifiers, and specialized charts. These will allow your eye doctor to test your visual acuity, visual field, and depth perception.

If your poor vision is making daily tasks difficult or impossible and it is affecting your quality of life, a low vision test is essential.

How Is Low Vision Treated?

Once vision loss has occurred, it cannot be restored. However, there are low vision aids available that can help you see better so and live a normal life. Treatment options include:

• Telescopic lenses
• Lenses that filter light
• Magnifying glasses
• Hand magnifiers
• Reading prisms
• Text reading software for your Smartphone or computer
• Closed-circuit television
• Talking clocks and watches
• Audiobooks
• Large print publications
• Phones, clocks, and remote controls with enlarged numbers
• Implantable telescope (this is often recommended for patients with end-stage macular degeneration)

Schedule An Appointment Today!

If you are suffering from low vision and it is affecting your daily life,Clara Vista Eyecare in Montgomery, TX can help. We provide all eye care services including low vision care. Our doctors of optometry can recommend a variety of visual aids to help you see better and improve your quality of life. You can call us at (936) 220-4313 to schedule an appointment today!