Comprehensive Eye Exams in Bluffton & Hilton Head Island

Most people come to us for one of two reasons: something has changed with their vision, or it has simply been too long. Both are good reasons. A comprehensive eye exam is the foundation of everything else we do — it is how nearly every condition we treat gets found in the first place.

What a comprehensive eye exam includes

A comprehensive exam is considerably more than the vision screening you might get at a pharmacy or the DMV. Yours will generally include:

• Vision testing at distance and near, one eye at a time
• Refraction — the "better one, or better two?" test that determines your exact glasses or contact lens prescription
• Eye pressure measurement, the primary screening test for glaucoma
• Eye muscle and alignment testing, to see how well your eyes work together
• Pupil and peripheral vision checks
• A slit lamp examination of the front of the eye — cornea, iris, and lens, where cataracts form
• An examination of the retina and optic nerve at the back of the eye

Plan on being with us for about an hour. If your eyes are dilated, your near vision will be blurry and you will be light-sensitive for several hours afterward, so bring sunglasses and consider arranging a ride — particularly for a first visit, when dilation is more likely.

How often should you have your eyes examined?

There is no single right answer, because it depends on your age, your health, and your family history. As a general guide:

• Adults under 40 with no symptoms and no risk factors — every two to three years
• Adults 40 to 60 — every one to two years. This is when presbyopia arrives, glaucoma risk begins to climb, and early lens changes appear.
• Adults over 60 — every year. Cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration all become substantially more common.
• Anyone with diabetes — every year without exception, even with perfect vision. Diabetic eye exams are recommended annually because damage can be well advanced before you notice anything.
• Anyone with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration — annually, and earlier than you might otherwise start.
• Children — see pediatric eye care for the schedule we recommend.

If something changes — new floaters, flashes of light, a shadow in your side vision, sudden blur, or eye pain — do not wait for your next scheduled exam. Call us.

What we are screening for

This is the part patients tend to underestimate. Several of the most serious eye conditions cause no symptoms at all until they are advanced, and a routine exam is the only way they get caught early:

• Glaucoma damages peripheral vision so gradually that the brain fills in the gaps. By the time most people notice, permanent loss has occurred.
• Diabetic retinopathy can be bleeding into the retina while your vision still reads 20/20.
• Macular degeneration often starts with changes visible to us long before they are visible to you.
• Cataracts develop slowly enough that people adapt without realising how much clarity they have given up. See cataract surgery.
• Retinal tears and detachments, high blood pressure, and some neurological conditions also leave signs in the eye.

Why an exam with an ophthalmologist is different

Your eye exam here is performed by a physician — an MD or DO who completed medical school, a residency in ophthalmology, and board certification.

The practical difference is what happens when the exam finds something. If we discover early glaucoma, the beginnings of a cataract, or diabetic changes in your retina, you are already sitting with the specialist who treats it. There is no second referral, no second waiting list, and no repeating your history to a new office. We simply continue.

Dr. James Limbert performs comprehensive examinations and refractions and has been caring for patients in general ophthalmology for thirty-seven years. Dr. Erin Benjamin sees comprehensive patients alongside her pediatric practice.

Glasses and contact lens prescriptions

Part of your exam is determining your exact prescription. We will measure it precisely and go through what the numbers mean for you.

We will provide your prescription in writing, and you are welcome to fill it wherever you like. If you wear contact lenses, we will also check the fit and the health of your cornea, which is a separate matter from the prescription itself.

What to bring

• Your insurance cards and a photo ID
• Your current glasses, and your contact lenses or their boxes
• A list of your medications, including eye drops — several common medications affect the eyes
• Any relevant family history, particularly glaucoma or macular degeneration
• Sunglasses, in case you are dilated

We accept most government and commercial medical insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, United and Tricare. Please bring your cards to every visit.

One thing worth knowing before you book: we do not participate with vision plans, and the refraction — the test that determines your glasses prescription — is usually not covered by medical insurance, so it is billed separately. Neither is unusual for an ophthalmology practice, but both are worth hearing in advance rather than at the front desk. See insurance and fees for the detail.