Complete Eye Exams in Cleveland, OH

Most vision insurance plans cover routine eye exams, including a refraction, which is the test done by your eye doctor to provide your eyeglass or contact lens prescription.

Most medical insurance plans cover medical eye exams relating to any eye health issues. This may include treatments for eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration. A refraction — the test done by your eye doctor to determine if corrective lenses will help you see better — is usually considered a non-covered benefit under medical insurance. Patients will pay separately for a refraction, when needed.

Dilation is an important part of a complete eye exam. Dilation causes your pupils to widen and allows your eye care provider to better view the retina at the back of your eye. This allows for a more complete diagnosis of the eye, including the presence of any diseases or conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, or glaucoma. 

Eye dilation can make your vision blurry and more sensitive to light. You may want someone to drive you home after a dilated eye exam. It can take between four to six hours for your pupils to return to their normal size. 

The standard definition of “normal” visual acuity is 20/20, which simply means that what you see at 20 feet is the same as what a person of “normal” vision would see at 20 feet. If you see at 20 feet what a person with “normal” vision would see at 40 feet, for example, then your visual acuity would be 20/40.

Optomap Retinal imaging takes a digital picture of the retina, the layer of tissue in the back of your eye that sends images to your brain. Having an Optomap image is fast and painless. Nothing touches your eye at any time. You simply look into the device one eye at a time, and you see a flash of light to let you know the image of your retina has been taken. The image capture takes less than a half-second and you can immediately see a picture of your retina while your eye care provider reviews the results. 

The benefits of having an Optomap ultra-widefield retinal image taken are early protection from vision impairment or blindness, early detection of life-threatening diseases like cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, and early detection of signs of retinal disease. Early detection means successful treatments can be administered and reduces the risk to your sight and health.

Between eye exams, you can complete a few different self-tests to check your vision and look for any changes. It is important that these at home tests do not take the place of a professional eye exam. These tests do not provide the full picture of your vision,  eye health or eye conditions that could lead to vision loss. At home self-tests include: 

• Distance Acuity Chart: A distance acuity test can be a useful preliminary screening tool. This test involves standing a specific distance from a chart with letters of various sizes.  

• Color Vision Test: If you're curious about your color vision, you can complete a simple online test to check your color perception.  

• Amsler Grid: An Amsler Grid test is a simple at-home tool for detecting early signs of retinal issues and macular degeneration. Check your retinal health with our step-by-step guide. 

Bloodshot or red eyes are a common occurrence, often appearing as pink or red streaks in your usually white eyes that can cause itchiness, tearing, and burning. There are many home remedies that can help you alleviate the symptoms of bloodshot eyes. To learn more about how to treat red eyes and when to see a doctor, explore our helpful guide.