Eyeglass exams

The doctors at Cannon EyeCare strive to provide the best eyeglass exams in Seattle. We block off enough time to be thorough so that we can address each patient’s individual vision needs and eye health concerns. Our optometrist will want to hear about any issues you have had with your vision at distance and near (and on computer). Most patients need one eye exam annually, but others have more complex cases. Sometimes we need to manage complex medical conditions that can delay the date of your refraction. Examples are moderate to severe dry eye and cataracts. Typically patients will leave their eyeglass exam with a printed glasses Rx. Often they transition right into their glasses fitting appointment at Market Optical, but there will be no pressure to buy or shop with them.

The eye doctors at Cannon EyeCare will try to learn more about your visual demands at work and otherwise at the start of the visit. Learning more about your unique visual demands will help your optometrist formulate a plan to allow you to see what you need to see at all distances – with prescription glasses and/or contact lenses. Sometimes these discussions will even turn up medical issues such as eyestrain or visual discomfort after spending hours on a computer. This in turn will often lead to extra testing for dry eye disease or discussions about mitigating eyestrain.

Another key goal for your annual comprehensive eye exam is to strive for optimal eye health. Preventative eye care is key to optimal long-term eye health. Eye doctors are much better at helping patients keep the vision they have than at restoring vision once it has been lost to preventable eye disease. That’s why even if your prescription glasses or contacts seem to be working fine, getting your eyes checked annually makes sense.

We routinely screen patients for debilitating eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Whether it is time for your annual eye exam, your current glasses seem a little blurry, or you just know things are a little off, come see us for a comprehensive eye exam. When you get your eyes tested at Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, you will get much more than a prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

Please note that if you are wanting to be fit in contacts, we can typically get the routine glasses exam AND contact lens fit done in one hour. In this case just select the “Eye Exam for Contacts” appointment type when booking your visit. There is no need to book an EyeGlass Exam and an Eye Exam for Contacts on the same day for one person.

Visual acuity testing – ideally we test your vision in your current contacts; this is one of the best reasons to wear your existing lenses into the eye exam for contacts. If you have to come in wearing your glasses instead, that will work too.

Cover Test – again, it’s best if we can do this test where we cover one eye, then the other, with your contact lenses on. If you have prism in your glasses, be sure to bring those as well.

Side Vision Test – sometimes this test is a little easier for patients who are doing their eye exam with contacts on, as the glasses frame won’t block your side vision.

Auto-Refractor – we will have you take your contacts out prior to this test. The info we get from auto-refraction serves as a starting point for refraction.

Auto-Keratometry – this quick automated test determines if your cornea is perfectly spherical or is somewhat warped (astigmatic). This info can help the optometrist perfect your glasses Rx, which may in turn lead to a toric contact lens Rx. This test also gives the eye doctor some info about whether to try you in a tighter or looser fitting contact lens.

Air Puff Test – nobody really loves this test, but it is an important glaucoma screener that tells the doctor about the pressure inside of your eyes. We will test you with contacts off.

Refraction – this is the old “one-or-two test’ that optometrists are kind of famous for. There is no difference in how this test proceeds in an eye exam for contacts vs. an eyeglass exam.

Eye Health Exam – your eye doctor will use a slit lamp to check all of the key structures of your eyes. They will pay special attention to the lids, tear film, and the corneal health of patients who wear (or plan to wear) contact lenses.

Dilation – there is no real difference in this test for glasses and contact lens wearers. See the EyeGlass Exam service type for our thoughts on dilation.

Summary of eye exam for contacts/ conclusion. Your optometrist will review any relevant medical findings and also discuss the plan for getting your contact lens Rx finalized. Sometimes we can finalize it on the day of your initial visit and give you a printed prescription. Other patients will need trial lenses to be ordered. We always ask that patients make an effort to come back for their contact lens follow-ups promptly, as we have a brief 6-month window to get the Rx completed. If there are delays and we cannot wrap up the fitting process within six months, we are required by Washington state law to perform another eye health exam – and there is a fee for that.

Insurance. We are in network with the major local health insurance companies. Cannon EyeCare does not accept any 3rd party vision plans such as VSP, Davis, or EyeMed due to unreasonable contractual stipulations.