Tests that you can expect during your regular eye exam:
Dr. Panzer recommends a yearly exam for everyone! During your eye examination by Dr. Panzer, tests are conducted using special equipment to assess general eye health and detect abnormal vision conditions or eye diseases.
- Binocular Vision Testing: For patients who skip lines or have to use their finger while reading.
- Color Vision Testing: Click here to take our online test to see if you might have a color vision deficiency. After taking the test, click here for the answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Visual Acuity Test: Visual acuity refers to the clarity or clearness of one's vision, a measure of how well a person sees. The word "acuity" comes from the Latin acuitas, which means sharpness. The reason that the number "20" is used in visual acuity measurements is because, in the United States, the standard length of an eye exam room (that is, the distance from the patient to the acuity chart) is about 20 feet. Someone with 20/20 visual acuity does not have "perfect" vision, since it is quite possible to see better than 20/20. The less the bottom number in the visual acuity ratio, the better the acuity; and the greater the bottom number, the worse the acuity. Therefore, 20/15 acuity is better than 20/20 acuity, and 20/30 acuity is worse than 20/20 acuity.
- Keratometer: A diagnostic instrument for measuring the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, particularly for assessing the extent and axis of astigmatism. It was invented by the French ophthalmologist Samuel Hankins in 1880. Used to design and fit contact lenses and monitor certain corneal pathology.
- Refraction: The degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism is determined during this test. A series of lenses are used and adjusted before your eyes to determine the best correction.
- Ophthalmoscopy: Dr. Panzer examines the inside of your eyes with an instrument that illuminates and magnifies the interior of the eye. Conditions such as cataracts, diabetes or hypertension can be detected.
- Visual Field Testing: A visual field test is a method of measuring an individual's entire scope of vision, that is their central and peripheral (side) vision. Visual field testing actually maps the visual fields of each eye individually. The visual field test is a subjective examination, requiring the patient to understand the testing instructions, fully cooperate, and complete the entire test in order to provide useful information.
- Topography: Corneal topography--also known as videokeratography or corneal mapping--represents a significant advance in the measurement of corneal curvature over keratometry. Keratometry measures the corneal curvature over a small area. Topography measures the curvature over a larger area allowing the doctor to detect corneal abnormalities and follow them more closely.
- Tonometry: This test measures the internal pressure of the eye. Tonometry is very important as it is used to establish pressure goals in treating glaucoma and monitoring patients suspicious of having glaucoma. There are numerous instruments which are employed in order to verify the accuracy of your eye pressure.
- Non-Contact Tonometry: This is the familiar "air puff" instrument.
- Goldman Tonometry: Considered the gold standard. Utilizes an applanation device to measure intraocular pressure.
- Tonopen: An easy to use, portable, hand held instrument which provides fast and accurate IOP readings comparable to the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer. Utilizing micro strain gage technology, and a 1.5mm transducer tip, the Tono-Pen gently contacts the cornea, and displays the average of four independent readings, along with a statistical coefficient. Sanitized Ocu-Film tips covers are used to minimize the risk of cross contamination. For more information click here.
- Dilation: Drops may be used to temporarily enlarge the pupil. The doctor can see only 45% of the eye without dilation. By examining the entire inside of the eye, Dr. Panzer can see problems that you cannot feel or see until they impair your vision.
State-of-the-Art Specialty Equipment:
- iZon: Patients who are wearing new iZon Lenses report that their vision is clearer, sharper and more vivid than ever before. iZon Lenses have also been clinically proven to improve nighttime driving vision by dramatically reducing glare and providing better definition. In FDA-validated tests, iZon wearers were able to recognize and react to a hazard in the road 25 feet sooner than conventional lens wearers. Call our office to see if you are a candidate for iZon High Resolution Lenses. Click here to view more information on iZon's website.
- Optos: Used by our office to get an ultra-widefield view of the retina (the back of the eye). While eye exams generally include a look at the front of the eye to evaluate health and prescription changes, a thorough screening of the retina is critical to verify that your eye is healthy. This can lead to early detection of common diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, and even cancer. The exam is quick, painless, and may not require dilation drops. To read about various conditions of the retina, click here.
- Endothelial Cell Counter: Measures health of cells on the back of your cornea
- Pachymetry: Pachymeters play a vital role in glaucoma screening, the co-management of refractive surgery patients, and assessing corneal pathology. Pachymetry can be defined as the measurement of corneal thickness. Sound waves are bounced off tissues that form echoes, which are used to measure the corneal thickness.
- Specular Microscopy: Specular microscopy enumerates the number and relative health of endothelial cells, allowing an objective assessment of the patient’s cornea. In cases of Fuchs' corneal dystrophy, the cornea begins to show swelling and the vision becomes blurred. Specular microscopy is used to measure the corneal endothelium cell density and determine the presence of corneal swelling. For more information, click here.
- Ophthonix: An autorefractor that allows us to make custom eye glasses. Determines near and farsightedness and astigmatism and assists in children's evaluations
- Automated Visual Fields: Determines peripheral and central vision disorders
- Ophthalmoscope: Examines the internal portion of the eye for a wide range of problems
- Biomicroscope/Slit Lamp: Examines the external eye for abnormalities
- Lensometer: Measures the power of your current prescription lens
- Automated Keratometer: Measures the shape of your eye for a proper fit of contact lenses
- OCT III: The Stratus OCT incorporates optical coherence tomography technology to provide comprehensive imaging and measurement of glaucoma and retinal disease. Stratus OCT is the gold standard in vivo imaging device for the posterior segment and offers proven reproducibility for disease management. The Stratus OCT provides real-time cross-sectional images and quantitative analysis of retinal features to optimize the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal disease and for enhanced pre- and post-therapy assessment. The device is beneficial for evaluation of cataract patients, pre- and post-operatively, and for the assessment of early signs of glaucoma and glaucomatous change.
- Scout Wave Topographer: The Scout Topographer offers corneal topography, visible light pupillometry and dark-adapted pupillometry all on the same map. In addition, the Scout's corneal wavefront maps clearly display lower-and higher-order aberrations that can be individually removed from the map for better understanding of problems. It is even possible to design a custom contact lens utilizing custom Wave Software. This is especially helpful in patients with post surgical complications from RK and Corneal transplants.
- Compound Microscope: Used to examine patient's eyelashes for Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis which are mites found in the hair follicles, especially the eyelashes. Older people are much more likely to carry the mites; estimates range as high as a 96-98% infestation rate in aged people. The lower rate of children may be due to the fact that children produce much less sebum. Our office looks for these mites by carefully removing an eyelash or eyebrow hair and placing it under a microscope.
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