OPTX Optometry - Los Angeles & Valencia

I see black spots floating around in my vision especially when the sun is out - what are they?

These are called floaters. As the eye ages, more of these are seen and they are due to the changes in the vitreous jelly of the eye. The vitreous is simply a clear jelly that fills up the internal space of the eyeball between the lens and the retina. Changes may occur which cause the very fine fibrils contained in the jelly to clump together and become visible as floaters. As long as these are longstanding and not associated with any flashing lights, they are generally okay and all you would need to do is notify your Optometrist and keep a watchful eye on them. If however you have not seen them before and they have only recently appeared, a thorough check with your optometrist or better still, an ophthalmologist (eye doctor), is advised. Floaters are most easily seen against a white or bright background. This is why they are more visible in the sunshine, against white walls or whilst flying and looking out at the clouds. Sometimes floaters are an indication of retinal tears and possible detachment of the retina. Although this does not happen all that often it is wiser to be safe rather than sorry so if in doubt, please find out!

Can I use any contact lens solutions or fluids for my lenses?

No. Always discuss your solutions with your Optometrist if you are thinking of changing types. It is quite possible to change from one brand of multipurpose solution to another, however, it is not wise to change from a multipurpose solution to a peroxide type where neutralization is required. Many contact lens wearers have made the mistake of using 3% hydrogen peroxide as a multipurpose solution.

I feel odd in my new spectacles even though they are made to the same prescription as my old ones -

A change in your prescription is not all that causes a new pair of specs to feel weird. The frame change requires adaptation as you may be looking through a smaller or larger viewing area and the lenses may be closer or farther from your eyes compared with before. The lenses may also be tilted at a different angle in the new frame and perhaps the frame does not wrap your face as much or as little as it did previously. The type of lens design in the new specs will also influence your vision. For example, thinner, flatter, aspheric high index lenses often seem less clear when looking through the extreme periphery of the lens. Perhaps the centers of the lenses are higher or lower than before. This can also influence your initial comfort. Perseverance is the key to adaptation, but after 3 weeks without improvement, please see our spectacle collections team for further assistance.

How often should I have a Sight Test?

We recommend that you have your eyes checked once every year, but this may vary depending upon the nature of your prescription. At the very least, you should have your sight checked once per two years. Should you wear contact lenses, a more frequent interval of every 12 months is advised. These recommended intervals assume that you are not experiencing any symptoms of visual change.

What does the eye exam involve?

An Eye Exam allows the Optometrist to:

Determine any relevant prescription for your eyes (far or Near-sighted, Astigmatism, Presbyopia)
Check that the muscles of the eyes work together
Check your Eye Health and screen for any associated general health problems
Perform any further testing as deemed necessary like Eye Pressures, Visual Fields, Color Vision or Pupil Dilation

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Eye Exams

Sight Test and Eye Health Check

After a friendly 'Hello' and 'My name is', you should find yourself in the chair of the consulting room with your Optometrist, Dr. Betmaleck, asking questions to establish reasons for your visit and what symptoms you may be experiencing with your eyes. An inquiry into your general health, medications taken, family health and eye history is quite normal and essential as many factors can affect your eyes. Your prescription will then be determined after the data from the eye exam has been entered into the computerized testing unit also known as a Phoropter.

You will find yourself looking at a succession of test charts through various lenses placed into the unit. Your optometrist will ask questions about the charts, which will determine whether you are far-sighted, Near-sighted, Astigmatic, presbyopic, or a combination of these. The equipment also enables us to check your eye muscles, so tests which tell us if the two eyes are working together can be done. Furthermore, your close-up vision will be assessed to ensure that no prescription is required when you are on the computer or reading a book.

Using an ophthalmoscope and perhaps a microscope, your eye health will then be assessed all the way from front to back.

Extra tests like Depth Perception, Color Vision, Visual Fields and Eye Pressures may be required and your optometrist will inform you if this is necessary. The most common extra tests are eye pressures and visual fields.

At the end of the consultation your optometrist will discuss your sight and eye health with you as well as all the options available if treatment is required. Please feel free to ask your optometrist anything, as it is our aim that you leave feeling reassured and happy.

Pressure Test

Dr. Betmaleck prefers the Goldmann Tonometer eye pressure test. It is the "gold standard" method of checking eye pressure, and best of all NO "puff of air" is used.

Visual Field Test

Visual field tests often seem more complicated than they are. At OPTX, our visual field tests are actually lots of fun and can be likened quite simply to a harmless game of space invaders. The only difference is that you have to keep your eye in one place the whole time. Each time you think you see a spot of light, as with the aliens in space invaders, you hit a button and it lets us know. The purpose of field-testing is to check your peripheral vision, which may be affected in some cases. The most common eye condition causing field loss is Chronic Glaucoma. Sometimes more serious conditions like pituitary tumours may be caught by having a field test. In this case, the field test could be a lifesaver.

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