As your trusted eye care facility, Southern Eye Group is proud to offer comprehensive eye treatment and compassionate care to many communities across the Gulf Coast. It’s our goal to provide you with effective treatments and the information necessary for you to make the best decisions regarding your visual health. Below is a list of answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our office and eye care. We hope you find it helpful and informative!
The human eye has different layers and internal structures, each of which performs distinct functions. The outside layer of the eye is comprised largely of a tough, white, protective tissue called the sclera. The sclera helps maintain the shape of the eyeball. At the front of the eye is an equally tough but clear structure called the cornea, which is responsible for letting light into the eye and bending light.
Going from outside to inside, the next layer of the eye is the choroid, which carries the blood supply necessary to nourish the eye’s internal structures. Finally, there is the layer called the retina, lining the inside of the eye, which is sensitive to light and receives stimulation to its specialized cells.
An optometrist has a degree of Doctor of Optometry. Medications to treat certain eye disorders such as pink eye, allergies, and glaucoma can be prescribed by both ophthalmologists and optometrists.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in eye care and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diseases, prescribe medications, and perform eye surgery. They also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
One main difference between an ophthalmologist and optometrist is that an ophthalmologist is trained to perform eye surgery.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), infants should have their first vision screening before leaving the hospital, followed by a comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age. Children then should receive additional eye exams at 3 years of age, and just before they enter kindergarten at age 5 or 6. Regular screenings should then follow.
An eye exam involves a series of tests to evaluate your vision and check for eye diseases. Your eye doctor may use a variety of instruments, shine bright lights directly at your eyes, and request that you look through an array of lenses. Each test during an eye exam evaluates a different aspect of your vision or eye health.
An eye exam helps detect eye problems at their earliest stages — when they’re most treatable. Regular eye exams give your eye doctor a chance to help you correct or adapt to vision changes and provide you with tips on caring for your eyes.
A good LASIK candidate must qualify for the procedure by meeting the general prerequisites and having an eye examination with an ophthalmologist. Ensuring that you meet the recommended conditions of LASIK through your ophthalmologist promotes safe laser eye surgery and reduces the risk factors linked to LASIK.
Schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors at Southern Eye Group to see if you’re a candidate for vision correction surgery.
Visiting the eye doctor can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time or you haven’t been in a while. Knowing how to prepare for the visit and thinking ahead is an important part of the eye exam process. Here are some tips on what to bring to your appointment and how to help you make the most of your next visit:
Visit our office financial page for a list of all the current insurance plans that are accepted at Southern Eye Group.
Most eye care experts recommend that you have a comprehensive eye care exam every one to two years depending on your age, risk factors, and whether you currently wear corrective lenses. Adults who wear contact lenses should at least have annual eye exams. And “at risk” adults should have more frequent eye exams. Risk factors for adults include:
If you have any doubts about how often you (or your children or parents) should have your eyes examined, call us today for a consultation.
Leading edge technology, experienced surgeons, compassionate staff, an in-office surgical suite, and high patient satisfaction are some of the many reasons why Southern Eye Group is a prominent eye care center in the Mid-South. Learn more about our practice and what makes it a leading eye care facility today!