Eye Exams in Titusville Take a Seat. We Take Our Time.

Has it been a while since your last eye exam in Titusville?

Maybe the road signs have gone soft, or the menu keeps drifting farther from your face. Maybe the drugstore readers are close enough and you have been meaning to get it checked. Or nothing is wrong at all, and it has simply been a few years.

Every one of those is reason enough. You do not need a symptom to come in, and you do not need to know what you need. Tell us what has changed, or that nothing has, and we will look at the whole eye and tell you where things stand.

What happens at a comprehensive eye exam?

At a comprehensive eye exam we measure how sharply you see, find the prescription that fixes it, and check the health of your eyes from the front surface to the retina at the back. That means an eye chart, a refraction, a look through the microscope, a pressure check, and a picture of your retina, all in one visit at either of our Titusville offices.

The refraction is the part everyone remembers: which is clearer, one or two. We do it on a Marco digital refracting system, so we can flip between your old prescription and your new one and let you see the difference for yourself before you order lenses.

Then we look at the front of each eye under the slit lamp, measure the pressure inside the eye, and take an Optomap image of the retina, a wide picture of the back of the eye in one shot. We go over it with you on the screen and keep it in your file, so next year we have something to compare against.

Some patients we also dilate, with drops that open the pupil for a fuller view of the retina and the optic nerve. Your near vision goes blurry and bright light bothers you for a few hours afterward, so bring sunglasses and think about a ride home.

What we check at every exam:

• How sharply you see at distance and up close, with and without your current glasses
• Your prescription, refined lens by lens on the Marco refracting system
• The front of the eye, the lids, and the lashes under the slit lamp microscope
• The pressure inside the eye, one of the checks for glaucoma
• The retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels, on an Optomap image and, when we need more, with dilation
• Your side vision, and how your eyes move and work together

How often should I have my eyes examined?

Every year or two for most adults, and sooner if anything changes. The American Optometric Association recommends an exam every two years for healthy adults 18 to 60 and every year from 61 on. If you wear contacts, have diabetes, or have glaucoma in the family, plan on every year.

Children need a first exam at 6 to 12 months, another at age 3, one before school starts, and then every two years through 18. A school screening reads a chart across the room. It does not check focusing or whether the two eyes team up, and reading takes both.

Some health problems show up in the eye first. Diabetes and high blood pressure can change the small blood vessels at the back of the eye, and the retinal image shows us those vessels directly. That is why we ask about your health and your medicines, not just your glasses.

Which doctor should I see for my eye exam, and at which office?

Any of our four doctors, and both offices do exams every day. Dr. Greg Aker and Dr. Amanda Aker see patients at our Downtown office, 338 S Washington Ave, up the elevator on the second floor. Dr. Sarah Koehnemann and Dr. Jennifer Bradley see patients at Playalinda, 1114 S Washington Ave, all on one floor.

If you would like to pick, here is how we would steer you. Dr. Bradley trained for children's eyes, so she is the one to ask for when a child fails a school screening. Dr. Greg Aker is our glaucoma specialist. Dr. Koehnemann, who shadowed Dr. Aker back in high school, runs our Low Vision Clinic for patients whose glasses no longer do enough. Dr. Amanda Aker trained in primary care and eye disease and sees adults and children beside her father Downtown. Or tell us what is going on when you call and we will match you up.

How much does an eye exam cost, and does insurance cover it?

Most vision plans cover a routine eye exam once a year, and medical insurance, including Medicare, often covers an exam when there is a medical reason for it, such as diabetes, glaucoma, or a new symptom. Which one applies depends on why you are coming in, and we sort that out before your visit so the desk holds no surprises for you.

We work with most vision plans and medical insurance, including VSP, EyeMed, Davis Vision, Superior Vision, Spectera, Avesis, Medicare, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Golden Rule, Tricare, Health First, and Florida Health Care Plans; call to confirm yours, since plan networks change during the year. Give us your plan name at (321) 269-2021 and we will check your benefits, including whether your plan pays toward glasses or contact lenses after the exam. No vision coverage? Ask for the self-pay price and we will quote it before you come in.