Eye Care

What Is A
Comprehensive
Eye Exam?

A comprehensive eye examination can differ based on the patient's age, the date of their last exam, and other factors. Not every component of the exam may be necessary or conducted; however, the initial step will involve documenting your medical history. At Whitsett Vision Group, you will then receive extensive diagnostics and a thorough examination, allowing us to closely assess your eye health and understand your vision goals.

What Do Eye Exams Detect?

Comprehensive eye exams evaluate all aspects of your vision and eye health.
The comprehensive eye exam looks at your eye externally and internally for any signs of eye disease or concerns.

Comprehensive eye exams look at your total health history.
Your eye doctor will discuss your overall health and that of your immediate family, any medications you’re taking, and whether you have high blood pressure or diabetes. They’ll also consider your daily and social habits. All these factors help the eye doctor properly assess your eye health.

Comprehensive eye exams are crucial for maintaining eye health and can detect a variety of conditions, including:


  • Refractive Errors: Issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

  • Eye Diseases: Conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

  • Systemic Conditions: Signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune diseases can often be detected through changes in the eyes.

  • Retinal Issues: Problems with the retina, including retinal tears or detachments.

  • Vision Problems: Assessing for issues with depth perception, color vision, and overall visual acuity.

  • Eye Pressure: Checking for elevated intraocular pressure, which can indicate glaucoma risk.

  • Eye Muscle Function: Evaluating how well the eye muscles work together, which is important for tracking and focusing.
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    Regular comprehensive eye exams can help catch these issues early, often before symptoms appear, allowing for timely treatment.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is usually caused by increased pressure in the eye, which causes mechanical damage to the optic nerve, and also affects the blood flow to the optic nerve. This damage to the optic nerve is what causes vision loss.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens within your eye. The lens is designed to pick up images and focus them on the retina, which then sends them to your brain. When clouding occurs, it makes it very difficult to see the world around you as the light is obstructed on its route to the retina.

Signs It's Time For An Eye Exam

Knowing when to see an ophthalmologist is crucial for maintaining good long-term eye health. While a regular visit every 1-2 years is recommended, certain signs may indicate the need for a sooner appointment. Here are the key indicators that suggest it's time for a comprehensive eye exam:

  • Persistent dryness, redness, itchiness, puffiness, or swelling of your eyes

  • Frequent occurrences of double vision, blurred vision, spots, or flashes of light

  • Difficulty driving at night, reading signs, or using a computer for extended periods

  • Struggling to see things up close or at a distance

  • Recent eye injury or exposure to foreign objects or chemicals

  • Presence of diabetes or a family history of eye disease

Take proactive steps to safeguard your vision by scheduling an appointment with your eye doctor for a thorough examination. Feel free to reach out to our office if you have any questions. Discover more about our laser cataract surgery services as well!

Why Choose Whitsett Vision Group
For Your Eye Exam?

Our unprecedented commitment to patient care, advanced surgical expertise, and superior results have made Whisett Vision Group the most trusted name for Houston eye care.

Our staff includes dedicated and trained eye care professionals who care about providing personalized vision to all of our patients. Many of these staff members have been part of Whisett Vision Group for more than a decade. Thousands of patients all over the country have trusted their vision to our dedicated team of highly-skilled professionals.