Eye Exams, Consultations, & More

At San Marcos Vision Center, we believe that a comprehensive eye exam is the foundation for preserving and enhancing your visual health. This comprehensive approach allows us to identify potential issues early, develop personalized treatment plans, and ensure you enjoy clear, comfortable vision for years to come.
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What is a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Unlike a basic vision screening, a comprehensive exam goes beyond just checking your eyesight. It involves a comprehensive assessment of your eye health, including the structure and function of your eyes, as well as the detection and management of any underlying eye conditions.

During a comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Sturm will use advanced diagnostic equipment and techniques to thoroughly examine your eyes. This comprehensive approach allows us to identify potential issues early on, enabling us to provide you with the most appropriate and personalized treatment plan.

What to Expect During a Comprehensive Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye exam includes several advanced tests to thoroughly assess eye health and vision. One of the key components is the Optos retinal imaging, which provides a wide-field view of the retina, allowing for early detection of conditions like retinal tears, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Another crucial test is the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) screening, which uses light waves to create detailed cross-sectional images of the retina, helping to diagnose and monitor conditions such as glaucoma and macular edema.

For those interested in contact lenses, the exam also includes a soft contact lens service and fitting. This involves measuring the curvature of the cornea and assessing tear film quality to ensure the best fit and comfort, as well as discussing lens options tailored to the patient's lifestyle and vision needs. These specialized tests, combined with standard visual acuity and refraction assessments, ensure a comprehensive evaluation of both eye health and vision quality.

Eye Conditions that Can Be Detected Through a Comprehensive Eye Exam

A comprehensive eye exam at San Marcos Vision Center can help detect a wide range of eye conditions, including:

• Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism)

• Cataracts

• Glaucoma

• Macular degeneration

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Dry eye syndrome

• Eye infections

• Binocular vision disorders

• Color vision deficiencies
  
  

Early Detection and Personalized Treatment

By undergoing a comprehensive eye exam, you can take a proactive approach to your vision, ensuring that any potential issues are identified and addressed before they become more serious. Early detection of eye conditions is crucial, as it allows Dr. Sturm to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This may include prescribing corrective lenses, managing chronic conditions, or recommending lifestyle changes to support your eye health.

By addressing eye health concerns promptly, you can prevent or slow the progression of vision-threatening conditions, ultimately preserving your sight and quality of life. Regular comprehensive eye exams at San Marcos Vision Center are an investment in your long-term eye health and overall well-being.

Schedule Your Comprehensive Eye Exam with San Marcos Vision Center Today

At San Marcos Vision Center, we take a specialized approach to comprehensive eye exams, ensuring that every aspect of your visual system is thoroughly evaluated. Dr. Sturm is dedicated to providing you with the most comprehensive and personalized care possible. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today and take the first step towards a lifetime of clear, healthy vision

If you’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma, you’re probably already familiar with the typical options in glaucoma treatment – eye drops, laser treatment or traditional surgery. While these are certainly effective, especially when glaucoma is diagnosed early, researchers have been working hard to offer new glaucoma treatments. Their goal is not only to improve outcomes but also reduce the treatment’s side effects and frequency of use.

What is the Goal of Glaucoma Treatment?

Before we dive into the new options, it’s important to understand the goal of any glaucoma treatment. At present, glaucoma is not curable. However, treatment can significantly slow the progression of the disease. Glaucoma damages your eye's optic nerve. Extra fluid builds up in the front part of your eye (cornea), which increases the pressure in your eye. Reducing this pressure is the primary objective of any glaucoma treatment. This is often referred to as intraocular pressure or IOP.

What are the Limitations of Standard Glaucoma Treatments?

Eye drops for glaucoma treatment seem like an easy option but there are several challenges that can reduce its effectiveness. It can be difficult to get all the medicine in the eye, especially for older adults with less of a steady hand. In addition, since it must be applied daily, individuals may forget. Since the drops have no perceivable benefit because early stages of glaucoma have no symptoms, patients might make it a lower priority which is understandable since it may also have unpleasant side effects like burning, red eyes.

Beyond eye drops, laser surgery is a less invasive option. The laser opens clogged tubes and drains fluid. It can take a few weeks to see the full results. If laser surgery or drugs don’t relieve your eye pressure, you may need a more traditional operation. You would have to go into the hospital and will need a few weeks to heal and recover. Although usually effective, glaucoma surgery can make you more likely to get cataracts later on. It can also cause eye pain or redness, infection, inflammation, or bleeding in your eye.

What are Recent Advances in Glaucoma Treatment?

Alternatives or Improvements to Eye Drops
The Glaucoma Research Foundation reported several new developments on the horizon. These technologies focus on reducing patient error in applying eye drops which would make the medication more effective and improve the quality of life for the patient. Here are some of the products underway:

• A polymer, like a contact lens, would contain the drug; it would sit under the eyelid and release the medication over several months

• Microneedles would inject medication into a specific spot to be most effective

• Implantable extended-release devices using engineered highly precise microparticles and nanoparticles

• Polymer-based intraocular delivery technologies that would allow customizable sustained release

• Drops that allow the medication to get into the eye more easily

• Tear duct plugs that release medication

In addition, people with glaucoma who take more than one eye drop per day are beginning to see those medications available as a single, combined eye drop. New products include Cosopt (timolol and dorzolamide), Combigan (timolol and brimonidine) and Simbrinza (brinzolamide and brimonidine).

Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss among people ages 55 and older. We offer various cataract treatment procedures and will provide the solution that fits you best.

Macular degeneration, commonly referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is the single largest cause of sight loss in the developed world and affects more than 10 million Americans. It usually affects people over the age of 60, but has been known to affect those who are younger. It is a painless condition that usually affects both eyes with the loss being experienced in the central vision. It does not affect the peripheral vision, meaning that it does not cause total blindness.

Optometrists often offer emergency services for patients requiring immediate or urgent eye care. If a patient’s eye is injured, he or she should visit an eye doctor immediately to minimize the risk of losing his or her vision. Some symptoms of common eye emergencies include sudden loss of division, sudden double vision, sudden redness or pain in the eye, pink eye, the onset of flashes and floaters, or a foreign body in the eye, especially metals or chemicals.