Optometrists Serving Denver, Aurora, Thornton & Hampden, CO

Whether you’re scheduling your child’s first eye exam, updating your prescription, or checking for changes in eye health, our goal is to keep your family’s visual health strong for life.

Why Regular Eye Exams Matter

A comprehensive eye exam does more than check your eyesight, it evaluates how healthy your eyes truly are. Routine exams allow your optometrist to detect problems early and protect your long-term vision.

An exam can reveal:

• Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism)
• Early signs of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataracts
• Effects of diabetes, high blood pressure, or screen fatigue
• Vision changes caused by age, medication, or injury

By catching issues early, treatment can prevent complications and preserve clear sight for years to come.

Pediatric Eye Care: Setting Kids Up for Success

Strong vision is vital for a child’s learning and development. Pediatric eye care focuses on early detection and correction of vision problems that can affect reading, coordination, and confidence.

Watch for these signs your child may need an exam:

• Squinting or sitting too close to screens
• Rubbing their eyes often
• Tilting their head or covering one eye
• Complaints of headaches or blurred vision

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye screenings at 6–12 months, again between 1–3 years (which may include photoscreening), and comprehensive vision checks between ages 3–5 to assess visual acuity and alignment.

Eye Exams for Children

Healthy vision starts early. Regular eye exams during each stage of childhood allow doctors to track how your child’s eyes grow and detect issues before they affect development or learning.

Infants (Birth to 12 Months)

During the first few weeks of life, your baby’s doctor or pediatrician checks for any visible eye concerns. Using an ophthalmoscope or magnifying lens, they examine the eyes’ structure, alignment, and movement, and look for signs of issues like crossed eyes (strabismus) or unequal pupil size. These early checks help confirm healthy visual development from the start.

Toddlers and Preschoolers (1 to 5 Years)

Between ages 1 and 3, your child’s vision is monitored for proper growth and coordination. Around ages 3 to 5, your eye doctor or pediatrician may perform a more detailed exam using tools such as a retinoscope to evaluate how the eyes focus light. This helps detect focusing problems, strabismus, or amblyopia (lazy eye) before they interfere with learning.

School-Age Children (6 Years and Up)

Once your child reaches school age, comprehensive eye exams every one to two years ensure they see clearly for reading, sports, and classroom activities. The doctor uses instruments like an ophthalmoscope and retinoscope to assess eye health and focusing ability, checking for any changes that might affect performance or comfort.

Eye Exams for Adults & Seniors

Adults should schedule an eye exam every one to two years, depending on age, health, and vision needs. Regular exams monitor eye pressure, assess the retina, and detect early signs of disease.

You may need more frequent exams if you:

• Have diabetes or hypertension
• Spend long hours on digital devices
• Wear contact lenses
• Have a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration

What Happens During an Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye exam gives your optometrist a full picture of how your eyes function and how healthy they are inside and out. 

Visual Acuity Test

You’ll read letters or identify symbols of varying sizes to measure clarity at near and far distances. This helps identify nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Cover Test

The doctor covers one eye at a time while you focus on an object to check eye alignment and coordination, identifying issues like strabismus (crossed eyes) that can cause double vision or fatigue.

Refraction Test

Using a phoropter, your optometrist flips through lens options and asks which looks clearer. This process determines your precise prescription for glasses or contacts.

Extraocular Motility Test

You’ll follow the doctor’s finger or light as it moves in different directions to evaluate how well your eye muscles work together.

Pupil Response Test

A small light is shone into each eye to see how your pupils react. Uneven responses may indicate optic nerve or neurological issues.

Stereopsis (Depth Perception) Test

You’ll view a set of 3D images or patterns to assess how well both eyes work together for depth perception which is important for reading, driving, and sports.

Ocular Health Evaluation

Using advanced tools like a slit lamp, retinal camera, or binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO), your optometrist examines the cornea, retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels for signs of cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.

Confrontation Visual Field Test

This checks your peripheral vision by asking you to focus on a central point while identifying objects that appear at the edges of your view.

Each part of your exam helps your optometrist understand your unique vision needs and overall eye health. After completing your tests, the doctor will review the results, explain any findings, and recommend next steps.

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