Comprehensive Eye Exam

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Eye exams are a key component of overall wellness and maintaining eye health. At your comprehensive eye exam at Pathway Eye, with locations in Athens, Madison, Rogersville, Huntsville, Alabama and Chattanooga and Ooltewah, Tennessee, your optometrist will assess your visual acuity as well as test for common eye diseases, check how your eyes work together and separately, and evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve. Your eyes are a window to your health, and a comprehensive eye exam can reveal conditions which you may not be aware of, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.  

Who Should Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam?  

Routine eye exams are important for both children and adults, as they are vital in promoting healthy visual development and catching any eye issues before they develop into a more serious problem. Comprehensive eye exams play an important role in maintaining healthy vision and it is recommended that they be conducted every year. Our doctors offer comprehensive eye exams for adults as well as comprehensive pediatric eye exams for children.  

What Does a Comprehensive Eye Exam Include?  

At Pathway Eye, your eye health and vision is our top priority. Our experienced doctors will work with you to fully assess your vision and develop a plan of treatment or care that is well-suited to your unique eye health needs. While tests will vary based on your eyes and your medical history, most comprehensive eye exams include the following:  

  • Assessment of visual acuity (the sharpness of your vision) and determining your correct eyeglass prescription   
  • Visual fields test to determine if you have blind spots or peripheral vision issues  
  • Cover test, which identifies cross eyes or binocular vision problems  
  • Determining your correct eyeglass prescription    
  • Slit lamp exam to detect common eye diseases and conditions  
  • Glaucoma test, which measures the pressure within your eye  

What Are the Benefits of a Routine Eye Exam?  

At your eye exam at Pathway Eye with locations in Alabama and Tennessee, your doctor will provide you with immediate feedback about the health of your eyes. They will test for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, focusing problems, other vision issues, and eye diseases. Based on their findings, they will provide you with a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses if needed and helpful information you need to know about your vision and eye health.   

Perhaps the greatest benefit of routine eye exams is their ability to prevent degenerative eye diseases. Healthy vision requires regular maintenance and care. Neglecting to get your eyes checked by a qualified optometrist can lead to the development of eye issues that can progress over time and have significant long-term effects, including blindness. Certain diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms in the early stages—they can develop slowly and without pain. If left undiagnosed, these diseases often have irreversible consequences. Seeing an eye doctor on a regular basis can protect your vision through early diagnosis and treatment.   

Schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Pathway Eye for a comprehensive eye exam 

Our qualified team of eye doctors is here to help you achieve clear vision and live your most high-quality life. Make your healthy vision a priority and contact our office to schedule your next comprehensive eye exam.  Schedule an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam at a Pathway Eye location near you at one of our Alabama or Tennessee offices.   

Can I do an eye exam online?

We do not offer online eye exams. We do however offer easy online scheduling. Please click here to schedule your appointment online.

What is included in an eye exam?

Every eye exam includes thorough testing of both your vision and ocular health. Our technicians and doctors use the latest technology to make your vision as clear and comfortable as possible with glasses, while also assessing your eye health. We are also able to fit all types of contact lenses, so please let us know if you need to be fit for contacts as part of your exam.

What diseases can be detected in an eye exam?

We can detect all types of eye diseases during a routine eye exam. Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye, and binocular vision dysfunction to name just a few. We can also sometimes detect systemic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions.

How often do I need an eye exam?

Our doctors recommend an annual comprehensive eye exam for our patients regardless of their age.

Is it necessary for the doctor to dilate my pupils during the exam?

Most of the time we like to dilate your pupils during your eye exam. This gives us the best assessment of your eye health, and for children, dilation is actually important in determining the glasses prescription. However, we understand the temporary blurred vision from dilation can negatively affect your work or school day. So, if you can’t be dilated at your exam, just let us know!