Eye and Vision Exams

• Why is scheduling regular eye exams important?
• What to expect during your eye and vision exam
• Eye Exam FAQ

When is the last time you had an eye exam? Did you know you that the American Optometric Association recommends yearly or bi-yearly eye and vision exams, depending on whether you are at-risk or not?

At Eye Society, we believe that great eye care begins with regular eye exams, so we encourage you to see Dr. Tanvi Mago for your family’s eye and vision exams in Chicago.

Why is scheduling regular eye exams important?

Preventative and routine eye exams are crucial to maintaining good eye health.

Vision exams are not only for those who need corrective lenses. These routine visits are important to detect other eye issues as well.

While we all can recognize when our vision seems a little blurry and we may need glasses or contacts, there are a variety of eye and vision problems that do not have obvious symptoms or recognizable signs. These issues can be easily detected and diagnosed by our experienced optometrist in Chicago during your regular eye exam.

What to expect during your eye and vision exam

At Eye Society, our Chicago eye doctor wants you to know not to worry at all – eye exams are painless!

During your visit, Dr. Mago will ask some questions about your vision, medications you take, any problems you are having, work environment and conditions, and some other basic health questions.

She will also consider your family history and any prior vision or eye issues you have had.

Vision Testing

Our optometrist in Chicago provides regular vision acuity tests as part of a comprehensive eye exam.

Dr. Mago will ask you to read a wall eye chart and the results of this test will reflect your vision, such as 20/20. We can then determine if you need glasses, contacts, or any other attention.

The exam will also include testing the functionality of your eyes to check your focus, depth perception, color vision, eye muscles, responsiveness to light, and more. Dr. Mago will then be able to diagnose any issues with the eyes.

In addition, Dr. Mago wants to ensure the overall health of the eyes and will use a visual examination as well as tonometry to do this.

She will visually inspect the eye and eyelids using bright light and magnification. The pupils may also be dilated for a thorough exam.

Tonometry is used to detect excessive eye pressure, which may indicate issues such as glaucoma. Dr. Mago will simply hold a small ball in front of the cornea, and then quickly tap it on the surface, which feels like a little tickle.   

Once these tests and examinations are complete, Dr. Mago can determine if any vision correction such as glasses, contacts, or laser vision correction is necessary.

Eye Exam FAQ

Before you see your Chicago optometrist, you may have a lot of questions. At Eye Society, we want to put you at ease about what your Streeterville eye exams will consist of.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions we receive.

How often do I need an eye and vision exam?

This depends on your age. You can go on a two-year basis if you’re under 60 years old. Once you turn 60, you should see your Chicago optometrist annually.

Do eye exams hurt?

No, eye exams can sometimes be uncomfortable, as you have to keep your eyes open for long periods. That said, an eye exam will never be painful.

What do eye exams in the Chicago Loop and eye exams in Streeterville test for?

These eye exams can test for a lot. Our optometrists are looking for common eye issues like myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, glaucoma, and cataracts.

We also perform diagnostic retinal testing, dilated fundus exams, and glaucoma tests. These are advanced tests that can find a myriad of conditions and illnesses, not all of which are related to eye health. These include:

• Sjogren’s Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and other autoimmune diseases
• Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological diseases
• Impending stroke
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes

Some of these conditions can impact eye health. You may be more likely to develop eye diseases and other vision afflictions if you have long-term high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, you’re at a higher likelihood of getting diabetic retinopathy.

What if I need glasses or contacts?

Your optometrist will be able to determine if you need glasses or contacts by the end of your appointment (and if not, several days later). At Eye Society, we offer both frames and contacts fittings.

Schedule an Appointment

If you are a Chicago resident and have any of these symptoms or suspect that you may be suffering from one of the mentioned conditions, you need to see our optometrists in Chicago immediately.

Contact Eye Society at (312) 640-2405 (Streeterville) or (312) 631-3247 (Loop) to find out how our eye doctors can further assist you or to make an appointment.