What to Expect
The best way to protect your vision is a yearly comprehensive eye exam. When you arrive at our office, you will be greeted with friendly faces. Each eye exam will use the latest state-of-the-art technology to assess your eye health. The doctor will inspect your eyes, answer questions, and discuss your eye care treatment options. In addition to determining your vision prescription, Dr. Burgwald will test your color vision, depth perception, and check for any early indicators of possible eye conditions such as cataracts, retinal problems, and glaucoma.
Our goal is to have each patient leave satisfied knowing that they are receiving the best eye care products and services possible. We have answered a few frequently asked questions regarding eye exams below.
Why is my personal background important?
In order to better tailor the eye examination to your needs, our doctor may review any current vision problems, your general health, as well as discuss your hobbies and lifestyle requirements.
Why does the doctor ask me, "Which is better: one or two?"
While evaluating your prescription, the doctor will ask you to compare a series of lenses to determine which allows you to see clearer. As the differences become less noticeable, the doctor will be closer to finalizing your prescription. If you’re having a hard time choosing between the options, it means you’re almost done with this part of the exam!
Why is it necessary to know my blood pressure?
In addition to other health concerns, high blood pressure can affect the blood vessels in your eyes, which could lead to future vision problems.
Why am I asked to follow a light with my eyes?
This part of the exam helps determine how your pupils and eye muscles react and assists in gauging neurological function.
Is it necessary for the doctor to dilate my pupils during the exam?
Although pupil dilatation is not always necessary, the doctor may make this decision during your exam. If required, this painless process is like opening a door so the doctor can fully examine your retina. Dilation can assist in detecting diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and macular degeneration.
How early should a child see an optometrist for an exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends a child’s first eye exam be somewhere from 6 months to 1 year old. Even at this early age, the doctor can access if an infant is at risk for eye or vision disorders.
Are there programs to help parents with the cost of an infant eye exam?
Infants between 6 months and 1 year are eligible for a free eye exam in our offices through InfantSee. I will check to see if the child has excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, if they have correct eye movement ability or other eye health problems.
One in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems. Many children at risk for eye and vision problems have a chance of those problems being prevented or corrected when caught early enough.
What can a parent expect when a child visits your office?
First, each patient is greeted by friendly, helpful faces at Burgwald Eye Center. Our team can answer any questions you have, will take the patient’s and family’s history and talk to you about any concerns you may have for your child.
Dr. Burgwald is trained to check a child and infant’s eyes, even if your child is non-verbal. If the child is still in diapers, we do suggest that the child is changed before they come for their visit. Children tend to perform best for an exam if they are alert. It is also suggested that you bring a bottle to feed the child.
Parents will be asked to come into the exam room with a younger child. The child can sit on their parent’s lap, and parents may be asked to hold puppets or targets for the baby as their eyes are examined.
Parents should talk to their older children about annual eye exams. Helping children understand that annual eye exams are just as important as dental or pediatrician visits will help your child understand the importance of eye health throughout their life. When eye problems are diagnosed early, we can treat and correct most of them.
If your child requires glasses or contacts, our teams will help you understand your insurance options and pick out frames. If your child chooses to wear contacts, we will help you learn how to put them in and take them out, no matter how long that takes.
Vision problems left uncorrected can lead to problems socially, academically and athletically so we love working with children to give them the best chance to succeed in every aspect of life. Plus with the new cool kid styles in eyewear, kids leave our office feeling cooler more confident and just better. There nothing better than seeing that big smile on your child’s face. We love it!!
Why is it important to protect a child’s eyes during outdoor activities?
Ultraviolet light from the sun can have serious effects on everyone’s skin and eyes no matter how old you are; but it's important to know that your child’s eyes are even more susceptible to damage from UV radiation. In fact, 80 percent of all UV exposure occurs before the age of 18.
UV light has been associated with several eye issues including cataracts, macular degeneration and cancer. Children are more at risk for retinal damage from UV rays because their pupils are larger and the lens inside the eye is clearer, which enables more absorption of UV radiation into the eye.
This is why it's important to keep your child's eyes protected when spending time outdoors. Younger children, those under six months of age, should stay even more shielded from the sun as their skin is not yet protected by melanin and their eyes are especially fragile.
What can parents look for as warning signs that their child may need to be seen by an Optometrist?
Here are 15 signs parents can look for:
1. Squinting
2. Tilting head
3. Sitting too close to an object
4. Loses place when reading
5. Covers or shuts one eye
6. Rubbing eyes
7. Crossed or "lazy eye"
8. Frequent headaches
9. Sensitivity to light
10. Easily distracted
11. Dislikes reading
12. Low comprehension
13. Errors while copying
14. Frequently misses small words
15. Prefers to write vertically