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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 $69* 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?

At-home eye exams provide limited and insufficient information in that they are not able to evaluate the health of your eyes. Optometrist-administered eye exams are comprehensive, health-focused and precise. Although at-home eye exams can give you a small amount of information about your eyesight, seeing an eye doctor to assess your eye health is always recommended. 

How much do eye exams cost?

Eye exams are only $69* at Heartland Vision.

What does an eye exam include?

Your overall health, health history and current eye-related concerns all determine what your unique eye exam and eye care will look like. Your eye exam may include: 

  • A review of your health history as it relates to your vision 
  • Screening for environmental conditions related to your occupation, hobbies or other factors that could impact your eye health
  • Vision chart tests to measure your visual acuity at near and far distances.

 

You may also have any of the tests below, which measure your depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, eye muscle function and how pupils respond to light.

  • Refraction Tests: During a refraction test, your eye doctor measures how well different lenses you look through focus light. You'll let your eye doctor know which lens option provides you with clearer vision. A refraction test lets your optometrist refine the lens power you need to accurately correct vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
  • Keratometry Tests: During a keratometry test, your eye doctor will focus a circle of light on your cornea (the clear outer part of your eye) to measure its reflection. This lets your optometrist measure the contour of your eye to assess for astigmatism and to achieve the proper fit for contact lenses. 
  • Tonometry Tests: Tonometry tests measure your eye pressure to detect pressure-related eye diseases such as glaucoma. Our eyes produce and drain clear fluid, and if your eyes have drainage problems, pressure can build up and damage your optic nerves. During a tonometry test, an instrument releases a small puff of air as a sensor measures the corresponding indentation on your eye’s surface.
  • Eye Movement Tests: Your eye doctor may perform tests to assess how well your eyes focus and work together. Eye movement tests let your optometrist identify problems affecting your focus or binocular vision.
  • Dilation Tests: Your optometrist may dilate your pupils with eye drops to get a better view of your retinas, your optic nerves and other internal eye structures. In some cases, Optomap® dilation-free retinal imaging allows your doctor to conduct a comprehensive retinal exam without dilating your eyes. 
  • Contact Lens Exams: If you wear or would like to wear contacts, you’ll need a contact lens exam and fitting in addition to a comprehensive eye exam. A contact lens exam includes special tests to measure your pupils and irises, map your corneas and evaluate your tear films. Contact lens wearers need to have their eyes checked regularly for any damage or changes the contact lens use may have caused.

What should you NOT do before an eye exam?

  • Don't forget to bring your glasses or contacts! 
  • Don't consume alcohol or caffeine before your exam. 
  • Don't forget to bring your insurance card if you have insurance. 

How often should I get an eye exam?

The recommended frequency for eye exams depends on your age.

For infants and young children, an initial eye exam is recommended at 6 months of age with follow-up exams at 3 years old before 5K.

Annual eye exams are recommended for children ages 6-18.

For adults ages 19-60, an eye exam every 1-2 years is recommended, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

Individuals 60 or older should get a yearly eye exam. 

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