Eye Care Associates Of St. Louis

Learn More About Regular Eye Exams and Refractive Eye Surgery with These Resources!

Follow the links below to learn about caring for your eyes through regular eye exams, and discover the advantages of refractive eye surgery.  In St. Louis, the optometrists and ophthalmologists of Eye Care Associates of St. Louis can fulfill all of your vision and eye health needs.  Call (314) 332-2768 to schedule your appointment today.

• This article from WebMD will teach you about the types of tests you can expect during a regular eye exam.
     
• To read more about the reason for the various tests your optometrist will use during a routine eye exam, check out this article from All About Vision.
      
• In this article on Eye Surgery Education Council’s website, you can read more about patient satisfaction with laser eye surgery.
     
• The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences offers this article that lays out the advantages and disadvantages of eyeglasses, contacts, and laser eye surgery.
     
• To understand some of the reasons refractive eye surgery may be a good option for your vision, read this Lasik Eye Surgery Correction article.

What Happens at an Eye Exam

Going to see your eye doctor should never be a stress-inducing event.  If you are nervous before your appointment, watch this video to learn more about the types of testing you can expect during a routine eye exam.

You can depend on the 118-year tradition of excellence at Eye Care Associates of St. Louis for all your eye care needs.  Beyond routine eye exams, the skilled professionals at Eye Care Associates Of St. Louis can provide cataract surgery, laser eye surgery, specialty contact lenses and the latest styles in eyewear.  Call (314) 322-2768 to make an appointment today.

Eye Care Associates of St. Louis Review | Dr. LaPoint | "Thank You So Much for Your Caring Generosity"

Why Regular Eye Exams Are Important

Many people believe that if they do not need glasses or contacts, they don’t need to have regular eye exams.  However, optometrists do much more than simply check visual acuity during a routine eye exam.

Types of Exams

During a routine eye exam, your optometrist will check your eyes in several ways with an array of tests.

• During the Snellen test, your doctor will position you a precise distance from an eye chart to test your ability to see at a distance.  The E chart is another test that is popular among children and those who cannot read.
• Refractive testing is done to find the correct prescription for your eyeglasses or contacts.
• Visual field testing will determine if you have vision loss in any specific area of your field of vision.
• Testing your color vision allows your optometrist to screen you for color blindness.

Test Results

Each of these tests provides valuable information about your vision.  Through these tests, your optometrist can identify many common eye diseases, look for damage to nerves, and assess how well your eyes are working together.  In fact, optometrists and ophthalmologists are often the first medical professional to diagnose chronic systemic diseases, like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Regular Eye Exams for Children

Eye exams for children are of special significance.  When an eye doctor checks a child’s vision, they can not only determine if the child needs corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, but can also check on vision development.  Children with undiagnosed vision problems often do not complain because they don’t know of a clearer alternative.  Uncorrected vision problems can lead to academic struggles.

To schedule a regular eye exam for you or your child, rely on the experienced doctors at Eye Care Associates Of St. Louis.  Call us today at (314) 322-2768.  With 118 years of serving the St. Louis area, our professional staff can fulfill your vision needs, from eye exams to LASIK surgery.

Disclaimer:

The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your doctor to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual doctor or physician.

Comparing Refractive Surgery with Continued Use of Prescription Lenses

Refractive surgeries have grown in popularity over the last 15 years.  If you’re considering laser eye surgery, it’s important to determine whether LASIK surgery is the best corrective option for your vision needs.  Always consult with your ophthalmologist to discuss your options, however, you can learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of laser eye surgery, eyeglasses, and contact lenses below.

Eyeglasses

• Advantages:  As the most common form of vision correction, eyeglasses are often the least expensive.  They’re also quite easy to maintain and can enhance an individual’s style as a fashion accessory.
     
• Disadvantages: Unfortunately, eyeglasses do not correct your entire field of vision, leaving peripheries blurry.  Additionally, eyeglasses need to be regularly replaced to accommodate changes in vision, and they can interfere with many physical activities.

Contact Lenses

• Advantages: Contact lenses are great for those who want a completely clear field of vision.  Contacts do not usually interfere with most sports and other physical activities, and they are generally unnoticeable. Unlike glasses, they don’t fog up when going from a cold to a warm environment.
     
• Disadvantages: Not everyone can wear contact lenses comfortably, and annual check ups are required to make sure that the lenses fit properly. Contact lenses must be handled with care, cleaned with a proper disinfectant and removed at bedtime. Poor hygienic practices and sleeping in contact lenses can result in vision-threatening eye infections.   

Laser Eye Surgery

Refractive eye surgery, such as LASIK, provides a wide array of benefits for patients who undergo the surgery:

• Many professions, such as airline pilots, firefighters, and law enforcement often require high visual acuity without visual aids. 
• Participation in sports is no longer hampered by eyeglasses or contact lenses. 
• Psychologically, LASIK surgery can also improve the way you see yourself. 
• Although the initial cost of the surgery may seem like a lot, you’ll save money in the long run by not having to continually buy contact lenses, lens cleaning solutions or new eyeglasses.                                                                                           

LASIK Results

Of patients who have undergone laser eye surgery, 85% state that their overall quality of life improved.  In addition, 93% of LASIK patients report satisfaction with their refractive surgery results.  Some of the benefits mentioned by LASIK patients include:

• Freedom from eyeglasses and contacts.
• Increased personal safety.
• Ability to see the moment they wake up.

To determine whether LASIK eye surgery is the best solution to your vision needs, schedule an appointment with the professionals at Eye Care Associates of St. Louis today at (314) 322-2768.  Our own Dr. Stephen Wexler is a refractive surgery specialist, and one of the leading LASIK surgeons in the Midwest. In addition to offering refractive eye surgery, Eye Care Associates of St. Louis also provides routine eye care, the diagnosis and management of eye diseases, and cataract surgery.