You only get one set of eyes in this life, so it’s vital that you take good care of them with the help of an experienced optometric provider like McDonald Eye Care Associates in Lakeville, Minnesota. This family-run practice can help with eye exams, primary eye care, and all your vision care needs. Schedule your appointment online now or call the office at (952) 469-3937 anytime for help.

Eye Exams & Primary Eye Care Q & A

What is the purpose of a primary eye exam?

A primary eye exam at McDonald Eye Care Associates can detect potential medical issues before they’re developed enough to cause symptoms. The earlier your optometrist finds a potential problem, the sooner preventive or precautionary treatments can begin. Because of this, a routine eye exam can help you avoid serious long-term vision problems.

A primary eye exam is also an opportunity to update your glasses or contact lens prescription. Wearing the wrong prescription can cause headaches, blurry vision, and other serious problems. Fortunately, your McDonald Eye Care Associates provider can easily perform a refraction test to get your new prescription on the spot.

Your McDonald Eye Care Associates optometrist will recommend an eye exam schedule specific to your needs. Some patients need to have eye exams just once every couple of years while others may need to have exams several times a year due to ongoing eye problems.

When do I need an eye exam?

While regularly scheduled primary eye exams monitor your vision when your eyes are healthy, you may also need eye exams when you’re having an eye problem. Problems that require an eye exam include:

  • Dry eyes
  • Eye infections
  • Macular degeneration
  • Cataracts
  • Strabismus
  • Glaucoma
  • Retinal detachment
  • Vision changes due to diabetes
  • Burning eyes
  • Something trapped in eyes

If you’re having any eye problem that’s interfering with your vision or any other aspect of your health and wellness, don’t hesitate to schedule an eye exam. The sooner that your optometrist diagnoses the issue, the more quickly you’ll have relief. 

What type of equipment does the eye doctor use?

McDonald Eye Care Associates has the latest and most advanced technology to aid in diagnosis and treatment. This includes:

  • Optomap® wide-field retinal imaging
  • A corneal topographer to map the surface of the cornea
  • Pachymeter to check the corneal thickness
  • Optovue iVue OCT tool for retina, optic disc, and cornea evaluation
  • Diopsys® to evaluate your visual pathway
  • Visual field instrument to check your entire visual field

Thanks to the highly advanced equipment at McDonald Eye Care Associates, the optometrists can diagnose and treat most eye issues promptly on site.

Book online or call the office to schedule an appointment today.

Below are some helpful links that may be useful in relation to eye exams & primary eye care:

Vision Screening vs Comprehensive Eye Exams

We would like to inform you about an important distinction between the vision screening your child experienced at school and a comprehensive eye exam. Understanding the differences between can help ensure the best eye care for your child.

Vision Screening:

  • The vision screening at school is a brief assessment aimed at identifying potential visual acuity problems. It involved reading an eye chart.
  • The primary goal of the vision screening is to detect obvious vision problems that may affect a student’s ability to see the board and engage in classroom activities.
  • Vision screenings are not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor.

Comprehensive Eye Exam:

  • A comprehensive eye exam is a thorough evaluation conducted by a qualified eye care professional, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
  • It includes a detailed examination of the eye’s health, refractive error assessment, and tests for eye conditions that can impact your child’s ability to read a textbook and learn. First time eye examinations often recommend eye dilation.
  • Comprehensive eye exams are recommended on a regular basis to monitor eye health and ensure early detection and treatment of eye conditions.

Vision and Learning:

  • Your child’s eye alignment, movements and control are very important in reading and learning. These findings are not assessed during a school screening, but can be evaluated at a comprehensive eye examination.
  • It is recommended you and your child complete the following survey. If you child scores > 16 please contact your trusted eye doctor to ask if their eyes may be impacting their reading and learning.
  • Scan the QR codes for more information on how your child’s eyes can impact their reading and learning.

Vision problems can develop or change over time, and comprehensive exams are essential to ensure your child’s eyes remain healthy and their vision is at its best. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are committed to the well-being and academic success of your child.

To learn more about why vision is more than 20/20:

YouTube: 2020 Isn’t Everything

Curing Learning Related Vision Problems

Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms Survey

Significant Scores:

  • Children ≥ 16
  • Adults ≥ 21

Visual Acuity at Screening:

Right: 20/____
Left: 20/____