Eye Exams

an optician checking eyes of her female patient

Eye Health Centres: Comprehensive Eye Exams in Calgary and Regina

When was your last eye exam in Calgary? Eye Health Centres in Calgary and Regina offer comprehensive eye exams. Don't forget your child's vision needs—80% of learning is through sight, so their first eye exam should be at 6 months. We provide education, service, and advanced technology to evaluate and maintain eye health. Allow 30 minutes for a thorough eye exam, including reception, pre-tests, and medical history review.

Trust our knowledgeable staff and up-to-date facilities for exceptional eye care. Schedule your appointment today at Eye Health Centres in Calgary and Regina. Contact us now to get your eyes checked.

Reception

Pre-test with a series of diagnostic equipment.

List of medications, previous appointments, and patient history.

What Is a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

A comprehensive eye examination is a thorough assessment of your eyes performed by a licensed eye doctor or an optometrist. It involves an entire review of eye health, including visual symptoms and refraction. A comprehensive eye examination in Calgary will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Case history, including past and current medical issues.

Visual requirements include those at school, work, and home.

Visual acuity: Your ophthalmologist will measure your visual acuity, determining how well you can see letters or symbols on an eye chart at various distances. This helps assess the clarity of your vision.

Refractive status: Refraction testing is performed to determine your eyeglass prescription. It measures how light bends as it passes through your cornea and lens, helping to identify any refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Intraocular Pressure: This test measures the pressure inside your eyes and is crucial in screening for glaucoma, a condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that can lead to optic nerve damage.

Pupil Response: Your ophthalmologist will examine how your pupils react to changes in light, which can provide insights into the functioning of your nervous system and detect any abnormalities.

Colour vision.

Eye coordination, including “lazy” eye.

Neurological/metabolic assessment of the optical system.

Eye health conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, dry eyes etc.

Please speak to us if you require further information.

The Importance of Eye Exams

Regarding eye care services, routine eye exams are critical for countless reasons. Firstly, eye examinations are the cornerstone of preventative care. When your eyes are checked regularly at our Calgary or Regina clinics, we can spot early signs of eye impairments and other health-related issues. Attending to the problem in its early stages will help you prevent vision loss and, in some cases, even save your life, as vision may be the first organ affected by many diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, and brain cancer. Eye exams will enable you and us to monitor your changing vision and take the necessary measures to protect your health and sight. Early intervention is the key to long-term sight and health. Vision can never be replaced and significantly determines the quality of life and well-being.

Eye exams can indicate your general health as many diseases and conditions might first appear in your eyes.

For instance, a recent study revealed that those with vision loss and eye conditions related to specific types of retinopathy may lead to permanent vision changes and even a stroke.

What to Expect During an Eye Exam?

During an eye-health examination, we will evaluate your entire visual system, including depth perception, colour vision and eye coordination. We will assess your eye health and advise you of any vision impairments, including long-term visual health recommendations.

Fundus Photography

Humphrey Visual Fields

Corneal Topography

Lensometry

Pachymetry

Intraocular Pressures

Autorefraction

Colour Vision Testing

Ocular Coherence Tomography

Stereo Acuity

After pre-testing, the doctor will thoroughly examine you, evaluate your eye health and advise you on how to best care for your vision including any necessary visual aids such as spectacles or contact lenses. Please ask our doctors any questions that you may have about your eye health. We care and are here to help you!

Preparing for an Eye Exam

You can prepare for your eye exam in Calgary by ensuring that you:

Bring your eyeglasses, sunglasses, or contact lens information with you.

Bring a list of your medications, supplements, and eye drops.

Get a clear idea of your family history of eye issues.

Check your insurance information to determine what is covered.

Have your primary physician’s information available.

If necessary, bring someone with you.

If necessary, bring a list of questions you may want answered.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

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People Who Need Annual Eye Exams

Annual eye health examinations should include patients who are:

Diabetic

Hypertensive

Have any eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration etc.

Contact lens wearers

Taking certain drugs for rheumatoid arthritis

Children by age 6 months and annually to 18, inclusive

Seniors 65 and older

The Cost of Eye Exams

The cost of eye exams and whether it is covered will depend on your coverage through Alberta Health, age, and medical condition.

Eye-health examinations are covered annually by the government for:

Diabetic health examinations do not include a spectacle or contact lens prescription examination.

Children up to the age of 17 (Saskatchewan) and 18 (Alberta) inclusive.

Those who are age 65 and above (Alberta only).

Partial eye health exams for emergencies (please call the office to determine).

Some instances of supplementary income are covered every two years – please inquire with the office.

Please contact us for more details if you require an eye exam in Calgary or Regina.

a female patient at a eye clinic getting her eyes checked

Eye Exams for Children

About 80% of learning is through vision! Moreover, good vision is vital to perform well in school, including extracurricular activities. Poor vision can make it difficult for children to function effortlessly, causing them to lag academically, leading to frustration with attached unnecessary labelling that destroys self-esteem. Please note that:

The first eye-health examination should begin at least six months of age (sooner if there is a noticeable problem or medical condition) and annually to age 17 (Saskatchewan) and 18 (Alberta), inclusive.

These eye-health examinations are covered annually by the provincial government!

We offer eye exams for infants, toddlers and school-aged children. Our optometrists provide a customized and comfortable experience based on our young patient’s needs.

Eye Exams for Adults

As you age, your eyes change and may become more susceptible to vision impairments. Lifestyle changes may impact your eyes in different ways with conditions that may determine the frequency of eye exams. You should follow the recommended schedule.

Are you experiencing unexplained headaches or vision problems? It may indicate an underlying eye condition that requires attention. In Calgary and Regina, Eye Health Centres is here to help. Adults' common eye problems include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Timely intervention from our professionals can prevent these issues from progressing into serious problems. Schedule an eye exam with us to ensure your eye health is checked. Our knowledgeable team and advanced facilities in Calgary and Regina are dedicated to providing the care you need. Don't ignore the signs—prioritize your vision health today.

Eye Exams for Seniors

If you are a senior citizen (65 and beyond), your eye health exam is covered annually for one exam per year by Alberta Health. As you age, your eyes become more susceptible to developing conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc., which may permanently impair your vision. It is recommended that seniors have an annual eye – health exam. The frequency will depend on the eye doctor's advice and eye health.

What Are Diabetic Eye Exams?

Diabetes can affect many systems inside your body, and the eyes are one of those. It can cause issues like diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, leading to blindness. A diabetic retinal eye examination becomes necessary to identify this condition. The comprehensive dilated eye exam allows your optometrist to detect signs of the disease.

If you have one of the following conditions, you should schedule a diabetic retinal exam:

If you've been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you should get an eye check-up within five years and then annually.
If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, have an eye exam immediately. This kind of diabetes is frequently identified years later, making early detection of potential retinal impairment crucial. Annual exams should follow.
Pregnant women with diabetes should get their eyes checked within the first three months of their pregnancy and then again, a year later.

Emergencies

Alberta Health covers eye infections, sudden vision loss, and sudden visual disturbances. If uncertain, please email or phone us. You may email Dr. Monea directly at dr.dmonea@gmail.com. We are here to help you!

Schedule an eye examination today at our Calgary (Shawnee or Kensington) or Regina location.

Insurance Coverage

Specific cases, such as emergencies, eye infections, diabetic exams, etc., are covered by Alberta Health. In addition to Alberta Health, your insurance agency might provide coverage. We provide direct billing for most insurance agencies, including:

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