COMPLETE EYECARE

Annual Eye Health Exams

At Family Tree Eye Care, we provide comprehensive, primary eye care for the entire family as well as specialty care of eye diseases and disorders.

Preventative and routine eye exams are important to maintaining good eye health. Often, eye and vision problems do not have obvious symptoms or signs, but are easily diagnosed by our doctor. By diagnosing eye and vision conditions early, we are able to provide treatment options and, in most cases, restore or prevent vision loss. The American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommend annual eye and vision exams. Dr. Yamamoto recommends annual eye exams to ensure we keep you current with your eye care. This will give you peace of mind that you are taking care of your most precious sense, your sight.

Eye Exam and Consultation

Our doctor understands that many conditions in other parts of your body can, and often do, affect your eyes and vision. During your eye exam, Dr. Yamamoto will ask you questions about any symptoms or issues you are experiencing, medications you are currently taking, visual blur, your work environment, and your overall health. Family history and previous eye or vision conditions will also be discussed during this part of the examination. All of this information is considered when your doctor makes his or her recommendation for treatment.

Vision Testing and Solutions

Regular vision testing, and evaluations ensure that you always have the clearest vision possible. We will test your vision at a variety of your common working distances as part of your comprehensive eye exam. Based on the results of your vision test, and how you use your eyes, a variety of eyeglasses and contact lenses may be prescribed to maximize your vision.

Specialty eyeglass options may include fully customizable progressive addition lenses, computer or office lenses, lenses for night driving, music glasses, polarized sunglasses, anti-fatigue lenses to reduce eyestrain with extensive reading (great for students), and lenses that protect your retinas from the harmful light that may cause macular degeneration.

Specialty Contact Lens options may include daily disposable lenses for optimum comfort. These lenses are the best option for dry eye sufferers. Dr. Yamamoto also fits multi-focal and astigmatism correcting lenses as well as gas permeable and scleral lenses.

Eye Function Testing

In addition to vision testing, your examination will include testing eye functionality. We will perform several tests to evaluate depth perception, color vision, eye muscle capabilities, peripheral vision, and responsiveness to light. Several other simple tests are completed to determine whether the eyes are focusing, moving, and working together properly. The test results enable your doctor to diagnose underlying conditions that may be impairing the eyes ability to focus or work together, therefore causing your eyes to work inefficiently.

Eye Health

As part of your comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Yamamoto will examine the overall health of the eye through a medical eye examination. He evaluates eye health by visually inspecting the eye and eyelids using a sophisticated bio-microscope. To examine the internal structures of the eye, we will dilate your pupils.

Every eye health examination screens for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, dry or watery eyes, and dozens of other eye conditions and diseases. Our glaucoma test includes new technology that allows us to check your eye pressure without “puffing” air into your eyes.

Disease Treatment & Prevention

As part of your comprehensive eye exam, we will examine the overall health of the eye through a medical eye examination.

Dr. Yamamoto evaluates eye health by visually inspecting the eye and eyelids using a sophisticated bio-microscope. To examine the internal structures of the eye, we perform a state-of-the-art high-resolution retinal scan or dilate your pupils (or both).

At Family Tree Eye Care, we believe in the adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Therefore, whenever possible, we alert our patients to things they can do, or products available, to help prevent a variety of eye disorders and diseases. These may include nutritional or dietary solutions to common eye problems.

A few of the common eye diseases and disorders we commonly diagnose and help our patients with include:

Glaucoma

Macular Degeneration

Dry Eyes / Watery Eyes

Cataracts

Flashes and Floaters

Diabetes

Color Blindness

Accommodative problems (near focus problems)

Itchy Eyes

Red Eyes

Metal or other foreign objects in the Eyes

Hordeolum (Stye)

Lazy Eye or Eye Turn

How Do I Know if Lasik is Right For Me?

The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK is to come in for an eye exam if you have not had one in the past year and discuss with Dr. Yamamoto. However, first, answer the following questions:

Are you 18 years or older?

Do you currently wear glasses or contacts?

Are you nearsighted, farsighted, and/or have astigmatism?

Has your prescription been stable for at least one year?

Are you in good general health?

Are you currently NOT pregnant or nursing?

If you answered YES to all of these questions, there is a good chance LASIK will work for you.

If you answered NO to any question, it does not mean LASIK won’t work for you, but you will need to talk to the doctor about your options.

Contact lenses

Contact lenses are a great option to correct vision for many people and due to recent advances in contact lens technology, even people who have not been successful with contact lens wear in the past, are often good candidates for contact lenses now. Dr. Yamamoto stays abreast of the very latest trends and technology in contact lenses.

What is Involved?

Prior to a contact lens examination, it is important to have a complete primary vision and eye health examination.

Whether it is glasses, contact lenses, Lasik surgery or cataract surgery, a thorough eye examination is an important first step. Dr. Yamamoto will evaluate your suitability for all of these options plus others during this examination.

Contact Lens Examination

During the subsequent Contact Lens examination and evaluation there are a multitude of factors to consider. Such factors as age, occupation, hobbies, eye health, physical health, dexterity, sports are important considerations among others. The type of correction one needs also is an important part of the decision. The need for bifocals, astigmatism or binocular eye coordination issues must be considered.

One Size Does NOT Fit All!

Dr. Yamamoto knows that “one size does NOT fit all” when fitting contact lenses. That is why we maintain an inventory of different contact lens brands, models, sizes, curvatures and modalities. This means we usually have multiple lens options for people in stock.

Next, special tests that are specific to contact lens wear are necessary. Measuring the shape and contour of your corneas are critical to your contact lens success and comfort. In addition, due to our dry high desert environment, we evaluate tear production and tear quality. But don’t despair if you suffer from dry eyes. We have many new dry eye therapies and special “dry eye” contacts lenses available to us now.

Contact Lens Training

While it is not difficult, putting a contact lens into your eye for the first time can be a challenge. Our skilled team will provide one on one training to help you become comfortable with this process.

Trial Period

Finally, we provide a trial period to see if the contact lenses will adequately correct your vision in your environment and will maintain their comfort throughout the day. Some of our patients desire contact lenses for part-time wear or for specific activities such as exercising, skiing, watersports, etc.

In the final analysis, our greatest concern is for the health of your eyes. A safe wearing schedule and lens hygiene program will be recommended and discussed with Dr. Yamamoto during your visits.

Specialty and Colored Contact Lenses

Some people have more challenging prescriptions or eye conditions that require a more specialized contact lens. We provide a full array of contact lenses for specialized needs, including:

Bifocal Contact Lenses

Monovision Contact Lenses

Astigmatism Contact Lenses

Colored/Cosmetic Contact Lenses

Sports Contact Lenses

Keratoconus Treatment

Scleral Contact Lenses