Eye Exams
Book Your Eye Exam in Fort McMurray with Our Professional Team
When you visit us at the Eyewear Place in Fort McMurray, you are assigned an optometrist from our qualified team. This optometrist will understand the condition of your eyes, look into any problems you might have with your eyesight and vision, and conduct an eye exam for you as per your case needs.
All our treatments, procedures and eye exams are conducted using the latest equipment. We aim to ensure maximum comfort for you while your eye exam progresses. At the same time, we also strive to gather as much information as possible about your eyes. Thus, we conduct eye exams to discover more than just the need for prescription eyeglasses. We strive to understand your eye and the strains it goes through throughout the day. Based on this information, we also try to discover any risks your vision might be exposed to and help you by advising preventive measures and providing treatment.
Would you like to book an eye exam in Fort McMurray? Get in touch with us today!
How Can Eye Exams Help?
Many individuals assume that an eye exam is only necessary when experiencing poor vision. However, a comprehensive eye exam serves a broader purpose. During each assessment, the optometrist evaluates the overall health of your eyes, not just your prescription.
This includes screening for early indicators of eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, as well as detecting systemic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Early diagnosis is essential for managing or preventing complications. For a more efficient appointment, patients are advised to:
-
Update insurance information to ensure seamless billing.
-
Schedule a contact lens fitting if considering or currently wearing lenses.
-
Avoid wearing eye makeup to allow for clear, unobstructed examination of the eyes.
Following these steps helps support a thorough and accurate evaluation during your visit.
The Process of an Eye Exam
Eye exams are step one for any diagnostic and treatment procedure; thus, we take our eye exams very seriously. Typically, an eye exam with us might involve:
-
Internal and external ocular examination: The doctor will examine the inside and outside. The doctor may dilate your eyes to better view the inside.
-
Eye pressure measurement: This is a glaucoma test. It measures the pressure to flatten a small, circular cornea area.
-
Complete medical and ocular history: Your doctor will review your medical and ocular history to give context to the exam. This will help us diagnose and treat you better.
-
Visual clarity: This measures your visual acuity at different distances, from about 6 metres to 40 cm. You’ll recognize this as the test where you read a chart with letters of various sizes on it.
-
Binocular vision evaluation: It measures how efficiently you use your eyes and how your brain interprets the visual information it collects.
-
Refraction for glasses: The optometrist switches between a series of lenses and asks which offers greater clarity. This test helps the detector determine the power your glasses need to adequately support your visual needs.
What to Expect During an Eye Exam?
At our clinic in Fort McMurray, an eye exam is conducted by a licensed optometrist in a controlled clinical setting. Each appointment includes a structured series of tests and evaluations.
Components of a standard eye exam:
-
Visual acuity testing: Measures clarity of vision at various distances using standardized charts.
-
Refraction assessment: Determines the prescription for corrective lenses based on how light is focused within the eye.
-
Eye movement and coordination tests: Evaluate how well the eyes work together and track movement.
-
Slit lamp examination: A microscope is used to inspect the structures at the front of the eye, including the cornea, iris, and lens.
-
Intraocular pressure measurement: Often referred to as tonometry, this test screens for signs of glaucoma.
-
Retinal imaging or dilation: The optometrist can view the back of the eye, including the retina and optic nerve.
Each exam component provides a complete picture of a patient’s eye health and vision needs.
How to Prepare for Your Eye Exam?
Preparing for your eye exam ensures an accurate eye health and vision assessment. Before going for an eye exam:
-
Gather documents: Gather essential documents, like old prescriptions, that will help the doctor determine the history of your and your family’s eye conditions. This will guide doctors in better understanding the situation to provide more accurate and suitable solutions.
-
Carry necessary documents: Your doctor will require your current glasses, contact lenses, and all other essential documents, including prescriptions.
-
Know your concerns: While visiting the doctor, you should know what you want to convey to the doctor for better treatment. Note specific symptoms, if any, to ensure proper treatment is offered.
-
Be prepared for testing: For various vision tests, such as reading an eye chart, checking visual acuity, assessing peripheral vision, and evaluating depth perception.
-
Follow-ups: Depending on the findings during your eye exam, your eye doctor may recommend follow-up appointments, treatments, or changes to your eyewear prescription.
Alberta Health Coverage for Eye Exams
Fort McMurray's eye care services are partially or fully covered under Alberta Health Care, depending on patient age and medical need.
Coverage includes:
-
Annual exams for children aged 0–18.
-
Yearly exams for seniors aged 65 and older.
-
Medically necessary exams for all age groups (e.g., sudden vision changes, eye injury, infection).
The Eyewear Place can assist with eligibility information and direct billing for approved services.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Next Eye Exam
Here is a guide to learn about do’s and don’ts for your next eye exam:
-
Do’s
-
Gather information: Note any recent vision changes you've experienced, medications you're taking, and any family history of eye conditions.
-
Update insurance: Bring your insurance card and any necessary paperwork if you have vision insurance.
-
Schedule for contacts (if considering): If you're interested in contact lenses, mention them while scheduling your appointment. This allows extra time for fitting if needed.
-
Skip eye makeup: Avoid eye makeup on the day of your exam, as it can interfere with some tests.
-
-
Don’ts
-
Forget information: Don't forget to bring the information you gathered about your vision and medications.
-
Wear eye makeup: Avoid eye makeup on the day of your exam.
-
Hesitate to ask questions: Don't be afraid to ask your doctor any questions you may have.
-
Forget your glasses/contacts or insurance: If you use corrective lenses or have vision insurance, remember to bring them.
-
Wear scented products: Strong perfumes or colognes can be bothersome during the exam.
-
What Makes Eye Exams Essential?
An eye exam is essential for examining your eyes. It reveals a proper insight into your eyes. Some of the reasons which make an eye exam essential are:
-
Enhances vision: These eye exams help identify eye problems at the very beginning stage. This allows for proper treatments to prevent any adverse impact. In turn, it helps enhance vision by promptly addressing the issue.
-
Protects your overall health: Your eyes serve as a window to your health. During an eye exam, your doctor might check for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and other neurological issues. Timely detection of these diseases aids in better diagnosis.
-
Personalized eye care: Eye exams assess the condition of your eyes, and if any issues are detected, a specialized and customized treatment plan is initiated.
-
Health maintenance: Just as regular medical check-ups are essential for overall health, regular eye exams contribute to comprehensive health maintenance. They ensure your eyes are healthy and functioning optimally, providing peace of mind and proactive management of eye health issues.
The Eyewear Place offers high-quality and comprehensive eye exams in Fort McMurray. These exams provide the complete report and analysis required for the examination and treatment.
Further Evaluations
Based on your concerns, our optometrists might also administer the following procedures to help determine the health of your eye, the condition of your vision, and the medical intervention that you need:
Visual field measurements (for glaucoma, stroke, and other neurological impairments)
Colour vision
Depth perception
Retinal imaging
Peripheral vision
How Frequently Should You Get an Eye Exam?
The frequency of eye exams depends on age, risk factors, and medical conditions.
Children (6 months – 18 years):
-
Initial exam between 6–9 months.
-
One exam between the ages of 2 and 5.
-
Annual exams during school years.
Adults (19–64 years):
-
Every two years for low-risk individuals.
-
Annually for those with risk factors (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of eye conditions).
Seniors (65+ years):
-
Annual eye exams are recommended due to the increased risk of age-related eye conditions.
The Eyewear Place follows guidelines provided by the Canadian Association of Optometrists and Alberta Health Services. For more information or to schedule your eye exam in Fort McMurray, please contact us.
Eye Exams for Children and Youth
Clear vision is essential for academic performance and childhood development. Early detection of vision issues can prevent long-term complications.
Children’s eye exams may identify:
-
Refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
-
Eye coordination or focusing problems.
-
Signs of amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes).
-
Symptoms that may be mistaken for behavioural issues.
The Eyewear Place offers age-appropriate testing environments and frames for youth when prescription eyewear is required.
Diabetic and Medical Eye Exams
Patients with diabetes or other systemic health conditions require more frequent and specific ocular assessments.
Exams for individuals with diabetes include:
-
Detailed retinal evaluation.
-
Optical coherence tomography (if needed).
-
Blood vessel monitoring for signs of diabetic retinopathy.
-
Reports are provided to referring physicians upon request.
Regular monitoring is critical to detect early signs of damage before symptoms become apparent.
Contact Us for an Eye Exam in Fort McMurray
In addition to providing eye exams in Fort McMurray and the surrounding area, The Eyewear Place offers various forms of eyewear. If you need a new pair of eyeglasses or boxes of contact lenses, browse the collections available at our store.
Make your eye health a priority. Call or contact us today to schedule an appointment or drop by our location.
FAQs
We have covered some of the most common questions that provide you with complete knowledge about eye exams below:
Do I Need to Dilate My Pupils for the Exam?
Dilation isn't always necessary, but it can provide a clearer view of your retina for some tests. Dilation can make your eyes light-sensitive, so bring sunglasses for afterwards.
How Long Does an Eye Exam Typically Take?
An eye exam can vary, but it usually lasts between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the complexity of the tests needed and any additional evaluations required.
How Much Does an Eye Exam Cost?
The cost of an eye exam can vary depending on your location, the specific tests performed, and whether you have vision insurance coverage. It's recommended to check with your eye care provider or insurance company for details about costs and coverage.