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Beach Eye Care

Comprehensive Eye Exams

patient receiving eye exam

See the Full Picture of Your Health with an Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam

Comprehensive eye exams by Beach Eye Care’s doctors are an important part of caring for your eyes, vision, and overall health. Schedule your eye exam at one of our five convenient locations today.

Did you know a comprehensive eye exam doesn’t just determine if you need eyeglasses or contact lenses?

Periodic eye and vision exams are an important part of preventive health care. Many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms, so you might not know a problem exists. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems can help prevent vision loss.

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How are comprehensive eye exams different from vision screenings?

Specialized equipment and procedures, which are not available as part of a vision screening program, are needed to adequately evaluate eyes and vision.

Only a doctor of optometry or ophthalmologist can conduct a comprehensive eye and vision examination. Beach Eye Care’s doctors have the specialized training necessary to make a definitive diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

A comprehensive eye exam includes:

  • Patient and family health history
  • Visual acuity measurement
  • Preliminary tests of visual function and eye health, including depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision and the response of the pupils to light
  • Assessment of refractive status to determine the presence of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
  • Evaluation of eye focusing, eye teaming and eye movement abilities
  • Eye health exam
  • Additional tests as needed

Vision screenings aren’t a substitute for regular professional vision care. Even if you pass a vision screening you could still have an eye health or vision problem. Comprehensive eye exams are the only effective way to confirm or rule out any serious eye problems.

Eye Exam Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to your eye health, experience matters! If you haven’t had an eye exam in a couple of years, if you’re a parent looking to schedule your child’s first eye exam, or if you’re new to Beach Eye Care this section is for you!

How often should I have an eye exam?

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We recommend that everyone over the age of five have a comprehensive eye exam every year. If you’re experiencing eye discomfort, vision loss, or blurry vision, you should schedule an eye exam even if your last eye exam was less than a year ago.
When should my child have his/her first eye exam?

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Our doctors recommend that every child have their first eye exam by an eye doctor before they start school. If parents notice vision problems before, make sure to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted doctors.
How often should children have eye exams?

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Children should have eye exams every 12 months.
How much does an eye exam cost?

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We accept most major insurance and vision plans including EyeMed and VSP (link to insurance page). If you don’t have insurance, Beach Eye Care offers options to help make vision care affordable.
What is the difference between an eye exam and a contact lens evaluation?

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A comprehensive eye exam consists of a series of tests to determine overall eye health and vision correction needs. A contact lens exam is additional testing to fit the patient in the best contact lenses for their eye and prescription. We offer the most advanced contact lens fitting technology.
What are retinal photos and why do I need them?

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The retina is the thin layer in the back of the eye composed of rods and cones that is responsible for sending light images to the brain for processing what we experience as vision. Retinal photos allow your doctor to evaluate your retina the day of your exam and furthermore document its appearance for comparison at subsequent exams. This is crucial to maintaining lifelong vision health.
Will my eyes be dilated during my exam?

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Dilation isn’t necessary for every patient, every year. However, this is largely dependent on the current health of your eyes during your visit.
Why do I need the puff of air test?

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During a routine eye test, we test your intraocular pressure (IOP), which measures your risk for several potentially blinding diseases such as glaucoma. The “puff of air” test is quick and painless but if you prefer, we have other options for measurement. Your comfort is important to us.