Frequently Asked Questions in Vero Beach FL

The frequency of your eye exams can vary depending on factors like age and health. It is common for your primary care physician to suggest that you have a dilated eye exam as often as every 6 months to monitor damage to different structures of the eye caused by some diseases such as diabetes. However, as a rule of thumb our Optometrists at Vision Plus suggest that you have a dilated eye exam every 2 years from the ages of 5 to 40 then we recommend every year after 40.

There are many subtle signs that it could be time to adjust your eyeglass prescription like when you have to hold the menu a little further away and you feel like your arms still aren't long enough, or maybe you find your self moving up a couple rows in church to see the pastor better. You may notice shadows around letters while reading a good book. Or you could be walking down the boardwalk at JC Park and not recognize your friend waving to you.

Today there are a wide range of choices with soft disposable contact lenses, Our optometrists at Vision Plus recommend using a soft disposable lens in the 1-day category. This allows the patient to put in a fresh contact lens for each wear. Being able to use a clean and fresh lens each day has proven to significantly decrease the amount of contact lens induced eye infections. There are also contact lenses available that provide ultraviolet and blue light protection.

While we don't have seasons here in Vero Beach like you see up north, we still struggle with allergies. Dry eye can be caused by and especially irritated by allergies of all kinds, then when you add an antihistamine, it compounds the symptoms of dry eye. There are other medications that can cause dry eyes also such as steroids and some blood pressure medications. Long hours spent on our devices can promote dry eyes especially when we are forgetting to blink. It is also important to keep your eyelids clean (ladies wash off that mascara) blocked meibomian glands will lead to poor tear quality and that leads to dry eye.

The best way to protect your eyes from our Vero Beach sunshine is a good pair of sunglasses with UV 400 protection. It is also a good idea to wear a hat with some sort of brim. Some contact lenses also provide UV protection.

Our optometrists at Vision Plus dilate the pupils because it allows them to see into the eye. It is important to look inside to check the health of the eye. Specifically checking the retina, to be sure there are no tears or holes. The retina is also where the Macula and Optic Nerve can be found, so your doctor will look for signs of Macular Degeneration or swelling of the Optic Nerve. Your doctor can determine if high cholesterol or diabetes has influenced the health of your eyes. A dilated eye exam has also led to the discovery of tumors and cancer. Here at Vision Plus you also have the option of choosing an Optomap image instead of dilation.

FIRST, DO NOT RUB YOUR EYE. Flush your eyes really well with clean water then call your doctor right away. In most cases you should be seen by the doctor to make sure that the cornea isn't scratched to avoid infection.

An optometrist does your annual eye exam and prescribes the form of correction best suited to you, whether it's contact lenses or eyeglasses. Your optometrist performs your annual comprehensive eye exam. During your exam if the optometrist finds anything that presents concern you may be referred to see an Ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a doctor who
usually has a specialty, and they will perform surgery If necessary. For example, an ophthalmologist who specializes in the retina will treat Macular Degeneration and fix retinal holes or tears. There is typically an ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract surgery. The biggest difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist is that optometrists don't perform ocular surgery and usually only treat certain ocular diseases. 

The most common symptom of cataracts is blurry vision that can not be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. You will also notice that colors aren't as bright as they once were and your vision can seem cloudy like you're looking through cling-wrap. Depending on where the cataract forms you may notice these symptoms only in parts of your vision and only out of one eye.

Screen time itself will not ruin your eyes; however, it can lead to Digital Eye Strain.

Predominantly, you will experience dry eye; however, you may also experience headaches and even tension in your neck and shoulders. Digital eye strain happens because we spend an extended amount of time looking at our screens and we forget to blink as often as we should. The discomfort of digital eye strain is exacerbated by the exposure to blue light that comes from our digital screens. We are also focusing on the screen at a close distance when our eyes need to be able to focus near and far all the time, so we recommend practicing the 20-20-20 rule. This means that every 20 minutes you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

If you have vision insurance specifically, then your annual eye exam will absolutely be a covered option. Many medical plans do not cover a routine eye exam; however, if there is a medical condition that requires you to have your eyes examined, that is often covered by medical insurance, but depending on your plan and benefits, the refraction may not be covered as part of your exam and will be paid for as an out-of-pocket expense. (The refraction is the part of your exam where the doctor determines your prescription. Which is better, 1 or 2?)

The OPTOmap is a unique tool that allows us to take a 200° digital image of the retina. This allows our doctors to view a much wider image if the retina at one time. The program has several modalities that enable the doctors to more efficiently diagnose disease and/or pathologies. The OPTOmap takes about 3 minutes to perform, and it is as simple as looking into a hole and the technician will take a couple digital scans (pictures) at which time you will experience a bright light. The most important advantage with the OPTOmap is that these are actual photos that will remain with your record from year to year. A photo can often make it much easier to monitor change over time.