Through annual comprehensive eye examinations, Dr. LeBlanc's goal is to not only maximize your visual performance, but to ensure and maintain your eye health.  As part of your examination, visual acuity (the sharpness of vision) will be measured and a test known as refraction is conducted to determine your eyes' refractive power.  Your examination will also include an evaluation of your eye health to detect diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retina and optic nerve abnormalities.

To best view your eyes' internal health, dilating eye drops will be used.  These drops cause the iris to open wide, providing unobstructed observations of your eyes' internal structures.  While your eyes are dilated, close work or reading may be difficult and viewing in bright sunlight will be uncomfortable.  The effects of the dilating drops usually begin to subside after a few hours; however, Dr. LeBlanc recommends that you wear dark sunglasses outdoors following your exam.

After performing these tests, Dr. LeBlanc will discuss your results and give you a better understanding of your overall eye health.  Traditional options such as glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, eye medications or surgery will be discussed.  When appropriate, we will also present more advanced treatment options such as refractive therapy or surgery.  In the event that you have cataracts or chose to wear contact lenses, additional services, beyond a comprehensive eye examination, will be performed.

Common tests and evaluations during an eye exam include:

• Introductory interview:  Consists of a patient’s medical history and eye health history as well as the patients family history of eye disease.

• External examination:  Inspects all outward visible parts of the eye and surrounding tissue.

• Pupil inspection:  Your pupils will be inspected for equal size and regular shape.  Dr. LeBlanc will test how they react to light and objects at various distances.

• Eye muscle health and mobility:  Eye movement is checked in six directions (corresponding to the six extraocular muscles), as well as tracking a moving object (such as a pen).

• Visual field:  You will cover one eye at a time, and with the other eye gazing straight ahead, identify objects in peripheral vision (often simply the number of fingers the doctor is showing.)

• Visual acuity:  A common means of measuring visual acuity is the Snellen chart.  This is a large card or projection with progressively smaller horizontal lines of random block letters.  The test determines how well a patient can discern detail at a given distance.  Patients taking this test will cover one eye and then read aloud the letters of each row, starting from the top.  The smallest row that can be accurately read indicates the patient’s visual acuity in that eye.

• Refraction:  This test is used to find your best corrected vision, if necessary for prescription eyewear or contacts.  Dr. LeBlanc will try various lenses in front of each eye, as you focus on a chart at a distance or up-close, to help determine the best power of correction.

• Color vision:  Is a series of images with symbols embedded in color dots or patterns.  Based upon your ability to identify the symbols, certain types of colorblindness can be diagnosed or ruled out.

• Ophthalmoscopy:  This test is often done with an ophthalmoscope, a handheld instrument with light and magnifying lenses.  Alternatively,  Dr. LeBlanc may use other means, such as a slit lamp, which affords a more three-dimensional view.  Ophthalmoscopy aims to inspect the retina and surrounding internal eye.  This test can help diagnose problems with the retina or detachment of the retina, and monitor diseases like glaucoma and diabetes.  An opacity in the eye can indicate a cataract.  Sometimes Dr. LeBlanc will dilate the pupils with eye drops to gain a wider view of the internal eye.

• Tonometry:  This test measures intraocular pressure, which can be a sign of glaucoma if pressure is abnormally high.  Internal eye pressure is measured either with a puff of air at the cornea or brief direct contact with the cornea, to measure how easily it is pushed inward.

Contact us today to schedule an eye examination appointment!