EYE TEST
Our eye examinations last around 30 minutes, and during this time our optometrists are able to deliver the ultimate health check for your eyes.
This service is complemented by guidance from our registered dispensing opticians and experienced support staff to convert the prescription into a perfect visual outcome through spectacles or contact lenses.
YOUR EYE HEALTH
To ensure that the health of your eyes is maintained and any problems with your vision are corrected, it is recommended that most people have an eye examination every two years.
The vision and health of the eye can be tested in more than 100 ways, and here at Bater & Stout Opticians we use a blend of traditional methods with some of the latest technology to provide the optimum eye test for each patient.
Glaucoma
We look at the condition of the optic nerve in all patients, and if over 40, we also use a Tonometer, which measures the internal pressure (usually by a few of air puffs on the eye). High pressure is often present in glaucoma, which can damage the sensitive optic nerve. In around 95% of cases there are no symptoms for this condition, and glaucoma is often referred to as 'the silent thief of sight'
Peripheral Vision (Visual Fields)
Where necessary, we also measure your visual fields to inform us about the sensitivity of the peripheral part of the retina, and the integrity of the optic nerve between the retina and the back of the brain. We have excellent cooperation with local doctors, hospital eye clinics and pharmacies, so if any concerns arise appropriate action can be made without delay.
Eye Co-ordination
Though a combination of simple and (where necessary) more sophisticated tests we can see how well and comfortably your eyes work together. Balanced eyes play an essential role in comfortable vision and enable the brain to see a 3D image from the two eyes
Determining Your Prescription
A Retinoscope and careful additional tests will measure the eye's focusing ability and will determine the prescription of your spectacles or contact lenses
Eye Clarity
We examine the four distinct clear zones in the eye to ensure a clear image can be formed on the retina. This will also tell us if a cataract is present
The Retina
Your retina is examined with an Ophthalmoscope and sometimes a binocular microscope, to ensure it is healthy and unchanged from previous examinations
Outer Surface Conditions
Especially important in contact lens fittings, the silt lamp (binocular microscope) helps us check the cornea, iris and lens for any scratches, imperfections or abnormalities
Health & Lifestyle Questionnaire
Information regarding your health, work life, personal circumstances and family history helps our experts gain an understanding of your needs
Remember - patients don’t fail eye tests, and although not everyone will read the smallest letters, we work hard on your behalf to maximise your visual potential.
No reading ability is necessary!
We can measure and examine children’s eyes by using simplified tests and special torches.
We encourage all children to have regular eye examinations, and suggest starting tests as young as 2 to 3 years of age to screen for major long-sightedness, short-sightedness, lazy eyes, squints and eye health conditions.
Some additional tests done with children include:
WHAT IS AN EYE EXAM FOR?
Colour vision – this is inherited as normal or deficient, and deficiency is more common in boys than girls, affecting 1 in 12 boys. This is usually tested by identifying large coloured numbers or simple patterns within a page of coloured spots
Stereopsis - This procedure essentially checks for 3D vision, which is an indicator that the eyes working as a pair and developing normally. This is usually done with a card where certain pictures are only visible if 3D vision is present (not nearly as difficult as the 'magic eye' pictures!)
An eye test and examination is performed by an Optometrist.
Letters (or pictures) are viewed from 20 feet or 6 metres away - with the smallest line of letters known as the 20 foot or 6 metre line. The ability to see these smallest letters, gives us the expression of “20/20” vision (American), or “6/6” vision (British), to describe excellent sharpness of sight.
You don’t have to be able to read or know letters to have an eye test…we can use pictures, shapes, numbers and other symbols instead. We can even get a good estimate of your eyesight needs, by using special lights reflected on to the back of the eye, without a patient saying a word!
There is no upper or lower age limit, with our youngest patient aged 2 months and our oldest 102!
YOUR EYE TEST EXPLAINED
To check and improve the quality of vision
To ensure the eye muscles (12 in all) move the eyes properly and without strain;
To ensure the eyes work together and are developing properly
To measure colour vision, and depth perception
CHILDREN'S EYE TESTS
Our children’s eye tests are friendly and fun and really important! Sometimes without you or your child realising, one or both eyes can have poor vision, and if not improved by the age of 7-8 can be come irreversibly poor (a lazy eye) for life. This is even more likely if one of the eyes turns inwards or outwards (a true “squint”), or if a close relative has a squint or lazy eye.
At Bater & Stout Opticians, our experienced professional Optometrists will check your standard of vision, and aim to make it crystal clear with glasses or contact lenses when needed.
We will ensure that your eyes are healthy and function well (inside and out), and if not (and if needed), ensure that you are promptly referred for appropriate treatment.
HEALTHY EYE STUCTURES
To ensure the many complex eye structures are healthy, and to look for disease or inflammation – these may include:
Eye Pressure
Often measured using a measured jet of air – if it’s too high, it can cause Glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve and can cause visual loss. Worryingly - there are usually no symptoms until it’s very advanced with significant sight loss. A regular eye test will pick up glaucoma in the early stages (it’s usually treated with long term use of special eyedrops);
Field Of Vision
The ability to see widely in all the space around you – defects can be caused by problems inside the eye (like glaucoma or detached retina), - or behind the eye (such as strokes or pressure on the brain or optic nerve);
Optic Nerve
The main nerve that leads from the eye to the brain – can be inflamed in certain medical conditions, swollen in certain brain conditions and can show signs of glaucoma (sometimes even when the eye pressure seems normal);
Macula
The thinnest, but perhaps most important part of the retina – more prone to damage/ swelling in those with diabetes and with increasing age (may need prompt treatment if there’s a problem);
Retina
The delicate, light receiving layer at the back of the eye, can become torn or detached, but can often be repaired or stabilised with prompt treatment;
Eye Clarity
Cloudy eyes have poor vision, and often suffer from glare! - we check especially for cataracts (the eye's focusing lens becomes cloudy, but is treatable);
Blood Supply
Can be more prone to damage in high blood pressure and diabetes, this in turn can affect other parts in the eye, and can lead to visual loss;
Pupils
Control the amount of light entering the eye – abnormalities can indicate nerve problems
MAIN PARTS OF AN EYE TEST
Talking – finding out about you, your symptoms, any current or previous eye problems, about your health and any eye problems in the family;
Checking your standard of vision and how your eyes work together;
Estimating whether you have any significant Myopia (short-sightedness), Hypermetropia (long-sightedness), Astigmatism (general lack of focus) and/or Presbyopia (age-related reading issues);
Fine tuning the estimate, to find the sharpest and most comfortable vision for your needs;
Examining the muscle & nerve functions of the eyes, and the clarity and structures outside and inside the eyes;
Discussion, advice and recommendation – ensuring you understand what’s happening with your eyes, what best can be done to help, and hearing your side of things.
ULTRA-WIDE DIGITAL RETINAL SCREENING
Regular eye exams are vital to maintaining your vision and overall health.
Bater & Stout Opticians offers the Optomap® as an important part of our eye exams.
Optomap Ultra-widefield retinal imaging gives a photographic record of the eye's health, and is recommended due to its massive Retinal viewing area and it’s ability to detect much smaller amounts of change over time. It produces a high-resolution 200° image to check the health of your retina. This is much wider than a traditional 45° image.
The Optomap® is fast (less than 1 second per eye), easy, and comfortable for anyone. The entire image process consists of you looking into the device one eye at a time. The Optomap images are shown immediately on a computer screen so we can review it with you.
NHS EYE TESTS
At Bater & Stout Opticians, we provide free eye examinations and (if eligible) free or discounted spectacles to NHS patients in Swansea, Neath, Morriston, Swansea Valley, Pontardawe and Gower.
We understand just how important your eyesight is to you, and maintaining the health of your eyes and your vision with regular eye tests is vital.
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Non-Contact and Applanation Tonometers – to measure the eye pressure;
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Medmont Corneal Topographer – creates a detailed surface map of the curvature of the cornea (front of the eye);
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Pachmate Pachymeter – measures the thickness of the cornea (- important as linked to eye pressure measurement accuracy);
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Henson & Medmont - Field of vision analysers
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Optomap (widefield retinal scanner) and the Topcon 3D O.C.T. (front of the eye and optic nerve and macula scanner). These have revolutionised the ability to see much wider areas of the retina, and a much more detailed picture of nerve and macula structures.
STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT
