Our Comprehensive Eye Exams

St. Petersburg Eye Doctor Serving Pinellas County

An Optometrist You Can Trust

Annual eye exams can help you prevent disruptions in your vision while also helping you diagnose vision problems early on so that you can seek the most effect treatment to keep your world in focus. Along with a range of other eye care services, our St. Petersburg eye doctor provides medical examinations and care for patients of all ages, from young children to the young at heart.

Medical Eye Exams and Ocular Health

At Ryczek Eye Associates, we talk a lot about the importance of eye exams. We do this for a good reason. Regular eye exams are incredibly important for the health of your eyes. Without these examinations, there are many eye conditions and diseases that would go undetected, causing severe damage to your vision over time. In many cases, diagnosing problems early leads to early and more effective treatment with a better outcome for your eyes.

To ensure we get the most accurate and complete assessment of your visual condition, our team utilizes the most cutting edge technology available. Our equipment is continuously updated to help us maintain the highest standard of eye care.

At Ryczek Eye Associates, we perform comprehensive medical exams for:

  • General check-ups and vision tests – Though it can be tempting to skip your annual exam, it’s important to remember that your vision can and will change, and the best way to protect and preserve your eyesight is with proper maintenance of prescriptions and early detection of diseases.
  • Driver’s license eye exams – To satisfy the requirements for obtaining or keeping your license, we offer exams to help you determine if you meet the criteria.
  • Dry eye evaluations – If you think you might be suffering from this common eye condition, we can perform a specialized exam that will not only diagnose your symptoms, but that can also determine to what degree you are suffering and which treatment method is right for you.
  • Contact lens examinations – Whether you want to try contacts for the first time or you are unhappy with your current prescription, we can provide a specialized contact lens exam to help you find the right fit.
  • Diabetic eye exams – You might be surprised to find out that diabetes can negatively affect your vision and exacerbate existing eye problems. Our diabetic exams can help you determine how your condition might be harming your vision and Dr. Ryczek can tell you how to manage and mitigate the issues.
  • Sports related vision tests – For active patients both young and old, Dr. Ryczek performs sports related vision tests and provides a range of corrective options to help you see clearly no matter what activity you are doing.
  • Cataract examinations – If you are over the age of 55 and your vision is becoming impaired, you might be developing cataracts. Scheduling a cataract exam can help you detect this condition early so you can get the treatment you need to protect your vision.
  • Pre & Post refractive surgery consultations – If you are intending to undergo surgery or if you have already had a procedure performed, we can help you detect medical issues to make sure your eyes are functioning properly and in good health.

Whether you simply want to maintain your visual health or you are seeking a professional assessment for a specific eye-related issue, Dr. Ryczek can help.

Thorough & Informative

Because that’s the type of care and experience you deserve.

Preparing For Your Eye Exam

To help you achieve the best eye care experience possible, we want to help you prepare for your exam so you know what to expect. For starters, our comprehensive medical eye exams take roughly 90 minutes to complete. Depending on your unique circumstances, such as whether or not you wear contacts or if you are having specific problems with your vision, your appointment may require more time. Though this might seem extensive, the benefits can last a lifetime.

One thing you can do to make your appointment go more smoothly is to sign in to patient portal and complete the pre-examination interview. By doing this ahead of time, you’ll help our team speed up the process of getting your checked in and ready to see Dr. Ryczek. Plus, you’ll get to skip some of the paperwork at the office!

To streamline the exam process even more, you can follow some basic preparation guidelines to save you valuable time and help you avoid any problems during your visit.

Eye Dilation and What to Expect

During our full eye exams, we typically need to dilate your eyes so that Dr. Ryczek can properly examine your entire lens and retina. This allows Dr. Ryczek to provide the best health care possible, so unless you request otherwise for a specific reason, dilation will likely be a part of your exam.

Dilation itself is relatively simple. Dr. Ryczek will use eye drops to enlarge, or dilate, the pupil of your eye. These drops usually take about 30 minutes to take effect, though everyone responds a little differently. As the drops begin to work, your vision will start to blur and your eyes will become sensitive to light – this is normal. It’s kind of like turning on a light after you’ve been lying in a dark room – the light irritates your eyes and you have difficulty focusing until they adjust. Pupil dilation works pretty much the same way, but it lasts up to several hours in most cases. For this reason, you will want to plan accordingly for your visit.

Consider the following to prepare for dilation during your exam:

  • Ask Dr. Ryczek if you have concerns about dilation. He can help you better understand the process and what to expect.
  • Make arrangements to have someone drive you home after your appointment. Sunlight will irritate your eyes, and you will have difficulty focusing on signs, lights and other important objects. This makes driving dangerous and unwise. Have a friend or family member give you a ride, or arrange a taxi or other ride-sharing service.
  • Bring a pair of your own sunglasses so you can protect your eyes from the light when you leave the office, otherwise, we will provide a disposable protector.

Still have questions? Don’t hesitate to ask them. We’ll let you know if there are any unique instructons you should follow before your exam. Call 727-327-8855 today to find out more.

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