General Ophthalmology
At Wooten Vision Care, we take pride in ensuring our patients that our exams do not simply address any evident vision correction needs, but take a comprehensive approach to your visit. A complete eye examination at Wooten Vision Care includes the following:
History of past and current eye problems, systemic diseases - especially important for diabetes and high blood pressure, medications, allergies, family history, and visual demands of jobs or hobbies.
Visual Acuity Eye charts - used to measure distance and near; for kids, picture charts are used; knowledge of the alphabet is not required.
Eye Coordination - These test how well your eyes track moving targets and focus together.
Refraction - A phoropter, an instrument with dial-in lenses for all prescriptions, lets the doctor pinpoint and fine tune the focusing power needed to correct your vision. For young children, eyedrops are sometimes required to obtain a more accurate prescription. To improve precision and accuracy, our physicians also use an autorefractor which gives added information about your prescription and is especially important for assessing children. A sight test involves this component alone and may only take as little as 5 minutes.
Eye Health - A slit lamp, basically a large, table-mounted microscope, plays light across the eye, allowing the doctor to check the lids, cornea, iris, and lens for conditions such as eye infection, iritis and cataracts. A yellow dye is applied to the eye to investigate dry eye, infection or surface irritation. This instrument is also essential in assessing the effects and fitting of contact lenses on the eye.
Intraocular Pressure An important test for glaucoma using either an air-puff instrument, or sensitive probe which gently presses against the eyeball under local anesthetic. Dr. Wooten is equipped with both.
Our physicians take time to explains these components of the eye exam as they go along, and counsel patients on their vision condition and the best possible solution to maximize vision and eye health. Always remember that when it comes to your vision, Wooten Vision Care has the experience and the knowledge to serve your needs.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an advanced technology used to produce cross-sectional images of the retina, the light-sensitive lining on the back of the eye where light rays focus to produce vision. These images can help with the detection and treatment of serious eye condition such as macular holes, macular swelling and optic nerve damage.
OCT uses technology that is similar to CT scans of internal organs, using a scattering of light to rapidly scan the eye to create an accurate cross-section. Unlike other imaging techniques, OCT uses light to produce high resolution images, rather than sound or radiofrequency waves. Your doctor can evaluate and measure each layer of the retina through this image and compare it with normal, healthy images of the retina.
The OCT exam takes about 10 to 20 minutes to perform in your doctor's office, and usually requires dilation of the pupils for the best results.
Humphrey Visual Field
The Humphrey Visual Field is a special automated procedure used to perform perimetry, a test that measures the entire area of peripheral vision that can be seen while the eye is focused on a central point. During this test, lights of varying intensities appear in different parts of the visual field while the patient's eye is focused on a certain spot. The perception of these lights is charted and then compared to results of a healthy eye at the same age of the patient in order to determine if any damage has occurred.
This procedure is performed quickly and easily in about 15 minutes, and is effective in diagnosing and monitoring the progress of glaucoma. The Humphrey system uses advanced blue-yellow perimetry, also known as Short Wavelength Automated Perimetry (SWAP), which is proven to detect signs of glaucoma-related vision loss earlier than other tests.
Patients with glaucoma will often undergo this test on a regular basis in order to determine how quickly the disease is progressing. The Humphrey Visual Field test can also be used to detect conditions within the optic nerve of the eye, and certain neurological conditions as well.
Dry Eyes Treatment / Tearing
Dry eye occurs when the eyes aren't sufficiently moisturized, leading to itching, redness and pain from dry spots on the surface of the eye. The eyes may become dry and irritated because the tear ducts don't produce enough tears, or because the tears themselves have a chemical imbalance.
People usually begin experiencing dry eye symptoms as they age, but the condition can also result from certain medications, conditions or injuries.
Dry eye is not only painful, it can also damage the eye's tissues and impair vision. Fortunately, many treatment options are available.
Non-surgical treatments for dry eye include blinking exercises, increasing humidity at home or work, and use of artificial tears or moisturizing ointment. If these methods fail, small punctal plugs may be inserted in the corners of the eyes to limit tear drainage, or the drainage tubes in the eyes may be surgically closed. Eyelid surgery is also a solution if an eyelid condition is causing your dry eyes.
To learn more about our Eye Care services and to find out if it is right for you, please call 713-652-9898 today to schedule a consultation.
