If you need a new place to go for your eye exam, we have good news! There is a new eye clinic in town in The Heights of Burnaby that offers comprehensive eye exams. With a team dedicated to excellence in eye care that offers comprehensive ocular examinations to ensure the long term health of your eyes and to optimize your vision. If you are someone who wears eyeglasses or contacts, then you know the importance of having an annual eye exam. It’s still important to get your eyes checked regularly, even if you don’t wear corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses, to make sure there are no underlying issues and that they are healthy.
Prpic Eyecare Centre offers a wide range of services including: comprehensive eye exams for all ages, glaucoma diagnosis and management, myopia control, orthokeratology, specialty contact lenses, emergency eye care, dry eye treatment, management of retinal disease, and surgical co management. So whether you need a new prescription or just want your eyes checked out, Prpic Eyecare Centre is the place for you. Schedule an appointment today! The clinic is open 5 days a week, including Saturdays, with morning and evening hours.
Common questions about eye exams:
What is an eye exam versus a sight test or vision screening?
What is an eye exam?
An eye exam is a comprehensive medical examination of the eyes. Your eye doctor performs these and they are done to diagnose and treat a variety of eye conditions.
What is a sight test or vision screening?
A sight test, also known as a vision screening, is a brief, non-comprehensive examination of the eyes that is sometimes performed by a health care provider such as a nurse or family doctor, often at a pediatrician visit and sometimes at school. A sight test is used to check for common vision problems and to determine if you need further examination by an eye doctor.
What is a comprehensive eye exam?
A comprehensive eye exam encompasses all of the elements that are found in a sight test as well as additional tests used to detect common and more serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes-related changes in the retina (the nerve tissue that lines the inside of the back of your eye), age-related macular degeneration, corneal disease or dry eyes. The variety of tests given will depend on the patient’s age and risk factors for developing certain diseases. Your optometrist will also determine your prescription and discuss the need for glasses and/or contact lenses
Do I need a referral for an eye exam in BC?
Fortunately in BC, you are able to go see your optometrist directly without any referral; however, your family physician, or any particular specialist can provide you with a referral if they would like you to get your eyes examined. Once you have a referral, it is time to choose an optometrist.
Does MSP cover eye exams?
The amount that MSP covers for your eye exam depends on a variety of factors including age and presence of any ocular diseases or visual disorders. MSP fully covers eye exams for kids at Prpic Eyecare Centre, covers a portion of the eye exam for seniors, and covers portions of the visits and specialty testing should there be any emergencies, ocular diseases, or conditions present.
Why should I get an eye exam if I don’t wear glasses?
It is important to get an eye exam every one to two years, even if you don’t wear glasses, depending on what your eye doctor finds. Why? Because your optometrist can screen for changes in your vision that may indicate the presence of a more serious eye condition, such as glaucoma, diabetes-related changes in the retina, or age-related macular degeneration. Annual comprehensive eye exams are the best way to catch these types of problems early, when they’re often easier to treat. Many eye conditions are preventable but not reversible, that is why our team believes in the proactive approach and taking care of the eyes before any conditions manifest.
Do I need glasses?
Common symptoms that people experience if they need glasses are: Blurry vision, difficulty staring at screens, avoiding reading, difficulty with driving, and glare at night. If your comprehensive eye exam reveals that you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have significant astigmatism, then yes – you may need glasses or contacts to see clearly at all distances.
How much does an eye exam cost in BC?
An adult eye exam typically costs between $100 and $200, depending on the type of examination and the clinic. Comprehensive Eye exams at Prpic Eyecare Centre are $135, and fortunately MSP and extended private insurance often covers the majority of the fee for many. Prpic Eyecare Centre also performs a variety of additional services and testing that are fully covered by MSP.
How often should you get an eye exam? – Conclusion
An eye exam is where an optometrist performs a comprehensive vision and ocular health examination on your eyes. A sight test or vision screening, which is sometimes done at school by a nurse, or by your family doctor or pediatrician, will typically only measure visual acuity (sharpness of focus) and may not detect serious problems such as glaucoma or diabetes-related changes in the retina. Its recommended to have annual eye exams with your optometrist to screen for these types of diseases that are more likely to develop as we age. It doesn’t matter if you wear glasses; all people should be examined every one to two years because there’s no way of knowing when our eyesight might change.
This article has provided some helpful information about what to look for in an optometrist, how often you should have your eye exam, and the best ways to take care of your vision in Burnaby. For more information about Prpic Eyecare Centre and their services or how they can help you, call 604-337-2575 or email us at info@prpiceyecare.com
