Dr. Porter prides herself on providing the highest standard of care in her examinations. During a comprehensive eye exam she will not only evaluate the quality of your vision, but also the health of the whole eye. A comprehensive eye exam can provide early detection of other health problems including glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and many others.

Reviewing your Health History

Personal, Family, and Health History

When you come in for your first visit, we will ask you to complete a general health and eye health history form. On return visits, we will update your information as it changes. The information we collect is essential for complete care of your eyes and vision. Many of our patients don't realize how important their general health is to the health of their eyes. Diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, thyroid disorder, and arthritis, among many others, as well as a wide variety of medications can adversely affect your vision or your eye health.

Checking your prescription

Refraction exam

This is the determination of your eyeglass prescription. Dr. Porter will spend time analyzing your current prescription and how it may or may not be working for you. Dr. Porter will also test the eye’s ability to see clearly at distance and near, check muscle control and coordination, and measure the eye’s ability to change focus when reading. She will then determine a plan to help you see more clearly and comfortably.

Checking your eye health

Slit lamp biomicroscopy exam

With her microscope, Dr. Porter will examine the eyelids, eyelashes, and the anterior portion of your eye, including the conjunctiva, cornea, and iris. With this test she can look for allergies, dryness, and eye irritation.

Checking for eye disease

Dilation of your pupils

This may involve dilating the pupils by the use of eye drops. If you have any medical conditions such as diabetes, it is important to dilate the pupils so that Dr. Porter can obtain a very clear view of the internal structures of your eyes. While these drops do not hurt, they can create blurred close vision for reading and a greater than normal sensitivity to bright light. Both of these side effects will last for 3-6 hours depending on your sensitivity to the medication and your eye color. You should remember to bring your own sunglasses but if you forget we will supply a disposable pair for you to wear home. Some patients feel more comfortable if they have a driver to get them home safely, although that is a rare occurrence.