comprehensive exams

Dr. Ni prides herself on providing the highest standard of care in her examinations. During a comprehensive 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, vascular diseases and many others.

Our comprehensive exams include the following important services:

Checking your prescription
Refraction exam

This is the determination of your eyeglass prescription. Dr. Ni will spend time analyzing your current prescription and how it may or may not be working for you. 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. Ni will examine the eyelids, eyelashes, and the anterior portion of your eye, including the conjunctiva, cornea, and iris.

Checking for glaucoma
Applanation tomometry exam

Dr. Ni will measure the internal pressure of your eye (unrelated to your blood pressure) using a sophisticated instrument that utilizes a blue light. This is one of the tests she will use to determine if you have glaucoma. Many of our patients have experienced a different version of the glaucoma test that utilizes a puff of air. The "air puff" test is much less reliable and far more uncomfortable than the "blue light" version. Dr. Ni uses only the applanation technique as it is considered essential for the highest standard of care.

Checking for eye damage
Dilation of your pupils

This involves the use of eye drops that will enlarge your pupils. It is important to dilate the pupils so that Dr. Ni can obtain a very clear view of the internal structures of your eyes using moderately bright light. Normally this amount of light would cause the pupil to constrict. The dilating drops temporarily prevent the normal constriction of the pupil. 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.

Checking your peripheral vision
Computerized visual field exam

This will test your peripheral, or side vision. Depending on your general and eye health, Dr. Ni will perform either a screening test or will go to more detail to detect subtle defects that may be the first warning signs of disease.

Checking for changes in eye health
Retinal fundus photography

This sophisticated, state-of-the-art technology captures an image of the back of your eye. Dr. Ni incorporates this tool as part of the comprehensive exam to provide the highest standard of care. Taking a photo of the optic nerve, macula, blood vessels, and retina at each comprehensive exam allows Dr. Ni to track any changes that may occur to those structures over time. It is a valuable tool in diagnosing eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, and many others. Each patient's photos are stored in our database, allowing Dr. Ni to monitor disease progression year after year.