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Affordable and comfortable Eye & Vision exams

Early detection and diagnosis of vision problems are crucial to preventing complications to your vision over time. Eye exams are a quick, painless and cost-effective way to know the status of your eye health.

Even if your vision is currently in good health, preventative health care like eye exams is essential to avoiding future vision loss and other eye health issues.

What happens during an eye exam?

Factors like your overall health, prior visits, and current symptoms all go into account when determining what tests will happen during your next eye exam. Generally speaking, the following occurs during your typical adult eye exam:

eye exam patient history in Indiana Patient History

The gathering of relevant symptoms and history of your health is essential to determine what issues we need to look for as well as how to treat you. This info includes any vision symptoms you are experiencing, eye injuries, medications, a family history of diseases like hypertension and diabetes, and any potential environmental causes your work or home may have.

eye examination vision tests in Indiana Vision Tests

Also known as a visual acuity test, eye charts are used to measure your eye strength at near and far distances. Other tests that you may experience will measure depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, eye muscle function, and how pupils respond to light.

eye exam refraction test in IN Refraction

Your optometrist will have you look through a series of different lenses asking you which of the two choices is clearer. This allows your eye doctor to get the most accurate prescription for your eyes to correct problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

eye exam keratometry Indiana Keratometry

The reflection from a circle of light off your cornea (the clear outer part of your eye) is measured to determine the right fit for contact lenses. It also allows your eye doctor to measure the outer contour to measure astigmatism.

eye exam tonometry Indiana Tonometry

An instrument releases a small puff of air into the eye as a sensor measures the corresponding indentation on the surface of the eye. This tests your eye to ensure a buildup of pressure has not occurred. Eyes continually produce and drain clear fluid from the eye. If drainage is not occurring as it should, it can cause a pressure buildup and damage the optic nerve, causing Glaucoma.

eye movement tests during an eye examination in Indiana Eye movement tests

This test assesses how efficient your eyes are able to adapt to a change in focus and move together in unison (aka eye teaming). Evaluating your eye movement can help your optometrist identify issues impacting your focus or binocular vision. 

eye dilation as part of a routine eye exam in Indiana Dilation

Eye drops are used to dilate your pupils which will give your optometrist a better view of your eye structures including your retina, optic never and more. Dilation-free retinal imaging may be available as an alternative to eye drops (not available at all locations).

contact lens eye exams in Indiana Contact lens exams

contact lens exam and fitting are required in addition to a standard eye exam if you wear or want to wear contact lenses. Special tests are administered to measure your pupil and iris, map your cornea, and evaluate your tear film. Your eyes will also need to be checked for damage and changes contact lens use might have caused.

Eye exams improve eye health

Why exactly are eye exams so important?

  • eye exams in IndianaDisease prevention & early detection of serious health problems
  • walk-in eye examsExperience healthy, perfect vision at every stage of life.

A significant amount of eye diseases don’t present with obvious symptoms and can lay dormant for a long period of time. You may not notice a problem with your vision until it’s too late and a serious problem has developed. One common instance of this is Glaucoma, which is known for a silent progression until permanent vision loss occurs.

By receiving regular eye exams, optometrists can evaluate the blood vessels in your retina for any warning signs of systemic disease and other complications. Routine eye checkups reveal many health problems including cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes and more.

You may even be unaware that your vision is not perfect. This is especially prominent among children who may be having difficulty in school, sports, and other social situations.

Heavy and frequent use of technology like smartphones and computers can lead to digital eye strain (aka computer vision syndrome). Symptoms from looking at a digital screen for too long may include headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes or neck, and shoulder pain.

Regular eye checkups will prevent or reduce the effects of digital eye strain and prevent long term damage. Our eye doctors can prescribe lenses that are specifically made to combat long exposure to digital screens to keep your eyes comfortable and in focus all day.

Your vision will likely deteriorate and worsen with time. Regular eye exams for renewed prescriptions will keep your vision healthy and focused.

  • Studies show United States adults spend

    10+ Hours on digital devices

Overexposure to blue light can lead to computer vision syndrome, a condition that can cause headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, dry eyes, and more.

Book Eye Exam

5 - 18 YEARS Once a year
19 - 60 YEARS Every 1-2 years or as recommended by doctor
60+ YEARS Once a year

*Our doctors of optometry provide eye exams for children aged 5 and older. For children younger than 5, please contact us for a referral.

If chronic conditions like diabetes or glaucoma run in your family, you may need more frequent checkups. Our optometrists provideeye exams for patients with diabetes and are qualified to treat eye problems associated with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

If any of the following are true, it’s time to schedule an exam ASAP:

  • You can’t remember when your last eye exam was
  • You regularly use a computer, tablet, smartphone, or other digital screens for extended periods
  • You experience headaches, squinting, or blurred vision
  • Driving at night has become difficult
  • You’ve noticed a sudden increase in ‘floaters,’ spots, and/or bright flashes
  • You have chronic eye pain, redness, dryness, itching, discharge, or irritated skin around the eyes
  • You’ve experienced an injury to the eye or eye area

If you notice any changes in your vision or eyes, it’s in your best interest to see an optometrist right away. Identifying issues early means the treatment is likely to be easier and more successful. Eye exams for seniors are recommended annually for early detection of any age-related vision changes.

How often you need an eye exam

How much does an eye exam cost?

We’re currently offering extensive eye exams for only $59 at all Heartland Visions locations in Indiana, including contact lens exams!

  • Using insurance

    for an eye exam

The majority of vision insurance plans will cover all or most of the cost for your recommended yearly eye exam. Insurance plans will sometimes pay for part of your eyeglasses or contact lenses too.

Your medical insurance may also be billed in addition to your vision insurance if you have certain medical conditions like pink eye or glaucoma.

Heartland Vision accepts a huge amount of vision insurance carries to ensure you’re getting the most out of your vision insurance or union health & welfare plan. We even provide a free coverage check to verify you’re getting the maximum benefits from your insurance. If your insurance plan doesn’t cover everything, we’ll break down exactly what those out of pocket costs entail so you don’t have any surprises when the bill comes.

Heartland Vision certified opticians are well versed with the techniques insurance providers employ to limit their own costs. As such, they are knowledgeable enough to help you get the most out of your vision insurance, union health & welfare plan, HSA (Health Savings Account) or flex dollars.

  • No insurance

    for an eye exam

If you don’t have insurance you are still qualified for our services. Many of our valued patients do not have vision insurance and are still able to get affordable extensive eye exams. We’ll lay out all the options for you whether you have insurance or not and get you set up with an affordable payment plan you can manage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do at-home online eye exams work?

Doing your own eye exam online can help determine your prescription, but cannot check the health of your eyes. Eye exams performed by optometrists are far more effective, and can help guarantee your eye exam is thorough and accurate. A professional optometrist with specialized equipment will always be your best bet for detecting any health issues and ensuring an optimal subscription.

How much do eye exams cost?

Eye exams are just $59 at Heartland Vision.

What does an eye exam include?

Your overall health, previous visits, and current symptoms will determine specific tests done during your eye exam. In general, the standard eye exam includes:

  • Patient history review - any vision symptoms, eye injuries, medications, and family history concerns.
  • Your doctor may also ask about your workplace and routines to screen for environmental conditions affecting your eyes.
  • Vision chart tests to measure visual acuity at near and far distances. Other tests measure depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, eye muscle function, and how pupils respond to light.
    • Refraction Tests: While you look through a series of different lenses, your eye doctor measures how the lenses focus light. You participate by saying which one of two options gives you a clearer vision. This lets your eye doctor refine the lens power you need to properly correct vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
    • Keratometry Tests: A circle of light is focused on the cornea (the clear outer part of your eye) and its reflection is measured. This lets your optometrist measure the outer contour to measure astigmatism and get the right fit for contact lenses.
    • Tonometry Tests: To measure your eye pressure. Eyes are continually producing clear fluid that flows into your eyes and drains out. If there’s a problem with drainage, pressure can build up and damage the optic nerve (causing glaucoma). In this test, an instrument releases a small puff of air as a sensor measures the corresponding indentation on the eye’s surface.
    • Eye Movement Tests: Your eye doctor may perform tests to assess how well your eyes are able to change focus and move/work in unison (eye teaming). Evaluating how your eyes move can let your optometrist identify problems compromising your focus or binocular vision.
    • Dilation Tests: Eye drops are used to dilate the pupils, which gives your doctor a better view of your retina, optic nerve, and other internal eye structures. Optomap® dilation-free retinal imaging allows your doctor to conduct a comprehensive retinal exam with no dilating drops needed (not available at all locations*).
    • Contact Lens Exams: If you wear or want to start wearing contact lenses, you’ll need a contact lens exam and fitting as well as a standard eye exam. A contact lens exam includes special tests to measure your pupil and iris, map your cornea, and evaluate your tear film. Contact lens wearers also have their eyes checked for any damage or changes contact lens use may have caused.

What should you NOT do before an eye exam?

Don't over-exert your eyes. Don't forget your glasses or contacts. Don't drink coffee or alcohol. Don't forget your insurance documents (if you have insurance). Don't be nervous! Eye exams at Heartland Vision are a simple and painless process with experienced optometrists to guide you through every step.

How often should I get an eye exam?

The frequency that you should get an eye exam depends on your age. Your children should get an initial eye exam at 6 months old. Then again at 3 years old, and again before starting 5K. From 6-18 years old, we recommend getting an eye exam once per year. From 19-60 years old, every 1-2 years is recommended, unless your doctor says otherwise. If you are 60 years or older, one eye exam per year is recommended.

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