Eye Exams
Your vision connects you to every meaningful moment in life, from reading a birthday card from your child to watching sunsets over the Missouri River. While many people assume good vision means simply seeing clearly at a distance, comprehensive eye health involves far more than reading letters on a chart. True vision care includes detecting silent diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration before they compromise your sight, identifying early signs of diabetes and hypertension through your eyes, and ensuring your visual system functions in harmony for a comfortable daily life.
At Vision Source Mandan, our experienced team of optometrists provides comprehensive eye examinations that go beyond basic vision screenings. With over 70 years of trusted eye care in the Mandan and Bismarck communities, we combine advanced diagnostic technology with personalized attention to protect your vision and overall health for life.
What is a Comprehensive Eye Exam?
A comprehensive eye examination involves multiple tests and assessments designed to evaluate every aspect of your visual health. Unlike quick vision screenings at schools or retail locations, these detailed evaluations can take 45 minutes to an hour, allowing our doctors to thoroughly assess your eyes inside and out.
During your visit, we:
- Examine the external structures of your eyes
- Check how well your eyes move and work together
- Measure your peripheral vision
- Photograph the inside of your eyes to create a detailed record of your retinal health
- Measure the pressure inside your eyes to screen for glaucoma
- Dilate your pupils to examine the optic nerve, blood vessels, and retina
Our comprehensive approach helps detect conditions like diabetic retinopathy, which affects nearly one in three people with diabetes, often without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Through dilated examinations, we can spot these changes before they threaten your vision, allowing for timely treatment and monitoring.
Advanced Technology for Precise Diagnosis
At Vision Source Mandan, we utilize cutting-edge diagnostic equipment to ensure the most precise assessment of your eye health. Our digital retinal imaging captures high-resolution photographs of your retina, allowing us to detect subtle changes over time and provide you with a clear view of your own eye health.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) creates detailed cross-sectional images of your retina, helping us identify early signs of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other retinal conditions. This technology enables us to monitor even the most microscopic changes in your retinal layers, providing opportunities for early intervention when treatments are most effective.
Our vision care services include computerized visual field testing to precisely map your peripheral vision. This testing is crucial for detecting glaucoma, neurological conditions, and other disorders that can cause blind spots in your visual field without your awareness.
Personalized Care for Every Age
Children require different considerations during eye examinations than adults. Our doctors understand how to communicate effectively with young patients and recognize the visual skills necessary for academic success. We evaluate how well children’s eyes track across a page, focus on near and far objects, and work together as a team.
For adults over 40, we pay special attention to the development of presbyopia and the early formation of cataracts. Patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, or family histories of eye disease receive enhanced monitoring and more frequent examinations.
Our myopia management programs help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children and teenagers. With childhood myopia rates increasing dramatically, early intervention can significantly reduce the risk of sight-threatening complications later in life.
Common Conditions We Detect and Manage
Comprehensive eye exams allow us to identify numerous conditions that may not cause symptoms until considerable damage has occurred.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma, often called the “silent thief of sight,” typically causes no pain or vision changes until irreversible damage has developed. Regular examinations, including pressure measurements and optic nerve evaluations, can detect glaucoma years before symptoms develop.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration affects central vision, which is essential for activities such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Through careful retinal examinations and specialized testing, we can identify early signs and recommend lifestyle modifications or treatments to slow progression.
Other Eye Conditions
Our eye conditions page provides detailed information about several other eye conditions we diagnose and manage. For example, dry eye syndrome, increasingly common in our digital world, can significantly impact comfort and visual clarity. We evaluate tear production, quality, and drainage to develop customized treatment plans.
Surgical Consultation and Co-Management
While Vision Source Mandan does not perform surgical procedures, we play a crucial role in diagnosing conditions that may require surgical intervention and coordinating your care with trusted specialists throughout North Dakota and the region. Our comprehensive examinations often identify patients who could benefit from surgical treatment, and we maintain strong relationships with experienced surgeons to ensure you receive the best possible care.
Surgical Co-Management Services
Our surgical co-management services include consultation and referral for laser cataract surgery, which offers enhanced precision compared to traditional cataract removal. We also coordinate care for cornea transplant procedures when corneal disease or injury affects vision quality. For patients interested in LASIK or other refractive surgeries, we provide comprehensive pre-surgical evaluations to determine candidacy and realistic expectations.
Macular Degeneration Treatment
Advanced treatments for macular degeneration, including anti-VEGF injections and photodynamic therapy, require specialized care that we coordinate with retinal specialists. Similarly, diabetic eye care often involves laser treatments or surgical procedures that we help manage through careful monitoring and follow-up examinations.
Vision Therapy & Low Vision Rehabilitation
Vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation services help patients maximize their remaining vision and develop adaptive strategies for daily activities. We evaluate patients who may benefit from these specialized programs and coordinate referrals to appropriate providers.
Glaucoma Management
For glaucoma management, we work with specialists who perform procedures like iSTENT implantation, which can reduce eye pressure and decrease dependence on glaucoma medications.
Emergency Procedures
We also coordinate care for emergency procedures like retinal detachment repair, ensuring rapid referral and comprehensive follow-up care.
Cosmetic Procedures
Cosmetic and therapeutic procedures around the eyes, including BOTOX® for medical conditions like blepharospasm, blepharoplasty for functional eyelid issues, and JUVÉDERM® treatments, require careful evaluation to distinguish between cosmetic desires and medical necessity. It is our mission to help patients understand their options and connect them with appropriate specialists when indicated.
Trust Vision Source Mandan for Your Comprehensive Eye Exam
For over seven decades, Vision Source Mandan has provided exceptional eye care to families throughout the Mandan and Bismarck communities. Under the leadership of Dr. Brittany Schauer, a Pacific University College of Optometry graduate who serves on the North Dakota Optometric Association board, along with experienced doctors Dr. Wayne Aberle and Dr. Danielle Dyke, our practice continues this legacy of excellence with personalized care and advanced technology.
Whether you need routine eye care, emergency services, or management of complex eye conditions, our team is committed to protecting your vision and enhancing your quality of life. We take pride in serving patients who have trusted us with their eye care for generations, and we look forward to serving you and your family. Call us at 701-663-0313 or contact us today to schedule your comprehensive eye examination.
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