Boise Optometrist | Gem State Eyecare

If it’s been sometime since your last eye exam, then you may be curious as to what to prepare for. Your optometrist will run a series of basic tests to assess your visual acuity, color vision, and vision field. Perhaps you’re already familiar with the “Big E” charts used to test acuity. You know: cover one eye, and read the tiniest letters you can see. We also check how far your eyes can track, usually by simply moving a finger side to side, and sometimes with a computer. Your eye doctor will closely monitor for blind spots, and determine other quick tests to run based upon your individual needs. Those tests may involve puffing air on your pupil, dilating your pupil with eye drops, or mapping your cornea with a computer program. Your optometrist may need to look at your eyes with a special microscope, as well. These tests are sometimes a bit awkward, but generally quick and painless.

Your doctor at Gem State Eyecare will personalize each appointment to your lifestyle, age, and needs. Detecting vision problems early on is crucial to ensuring a positive learning experience for your school age child. If you’re older, maintaining vision will help ensure less medical expenses down the road, too. No matter your age, an eye exam at Gem State Eyecare consists of two separate evaluations: a total vision evaluation, as well as a medical eye health evaluation, which helps detect and prevent common diseases. Did you know that diabetes can be diagnosed during an eye health evaluation? That’s just one reason why we describe our eye exam process as comprehensive - it’s truly a comprehensive part of your total health and wellness.

Maybe you’ve experienced nagging pain and discomfort from dirt or dust abrading your eye. Or perhaps you got a bit too much shampoo in your eyes and you just can’t shake the redness and burning sensation. Sports injuries are another common woe, especially for active children. We’ve all been there in some form or another! But what you may not know is that even minor eye injuries with little pain may warrant a visit to your optometrist. As a general rule of thumb, call us for advice or to make an appointment if your symptoms persist for more than a couple days. If anything changes your eye shape, causes swelling, or creates blurred vision, seeking eye injury treatment should be prioritized as soon as possible.

Untreated eye abrasions and injuries can also lead to eye infections, turning one unwanted problem into two. In fact, most infections stem from bacteria entering small, even tiny, open wounds. Eye infections can also occur due to exposure to a fungus or virus. It’s important to seek advice and treatment for eye infections because many are contagious. via touch, eye droplets, and shared objects. You’re probably already familiar with pink eye, as children are particularly likely to develop this common and highly contagious eye infection. The good news is that most eye injuries and infections, while common and annoying, are also easily treated by our experienced eye care team.

If you experience any troubling eye symptoms that can’t be attributed to a known injury or infection, the quickest way to calm your nerves and address the root cause is to get in touch with your optometrist at Gem State Eyecare. Our team is dedicated to early treatment and prevention and highly skilled at diagnosing and managing a wide variety of eye conditions. We collaborate with a network of top specialists in various eye diseases to ensure that you have access to the best treatment available.

Some conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, are typically age-related and can be easily managed if detected and treated early on. Remember, maintaining routine eye exams is the simplest way to ensure early detection. Eye conditions that are not caught and treated in time can lead to further complications, including progressive to total vision loss. It is our goal to make sure your vision is with you for life.

If you’ve been wearing glasses or contacts most of your life, then chances are you may have considered the idea of LASIK surgery. What you may not know is that there are other laser vision and refractive surgeries available, too, and that they often include fairly quick recovery times. IF you are a candidate for LASIK, we will work hand in hand with you to ensure you feel fully prepared and confident in your decision. Keep in mind that LASIK is not the best option for everyone. As such, we invite you to reach out to Gem State Eyecare with any questions you have. We can help you land on the best laser vision correction or surgical option available based on your individual needs.

Maybe you’re interested in transitioning from wearing glasses to relying on contact lenses to improve your vision. If so, you may know that contacts actually improve your vision more than standard eyeglasses do since they essentially act like a component of your eye. Not to mention, there’s convenience and an aesthetic appeal to choosing contacts over eyeglasses. If you’re looking at using contact lenses, you’ll first need to schedule a fitting appointment with us to ensure the smoothest transition possible. Gone are the days when dry eyes or a strong prescription eliminated the contact lens option. With the advances our field has made, our optometrist now finds that most people can be candidates for contacts if properly fitted.

The fitting process includes a comprehensive eye exam, as well as precise measurements of your cornea, pupil, iris, and tear film. We’ll make sure you have plenty of time to practice putting on your contacts comfortably in our office, too, so no need for any lingering anxieties!

You know the saying. The eyes are the window to the soul. It’s human nature to be concerned about the appearance of your eyes, and our eyecare specialists understand it better than just about anyone. We aren’t just on the lookout for your vision and health; we want you to feel positive about your appearance, too. Gem State Eyecare offers several non-invasive treatments to keep your peepers looking and feeling their very best. Ranging from nutritional supplements, to eyelid cleansing, to Latisse, to Lids by Design, you have options that won’t break the bank. Keep in mind that the skin around the eyes is super delicate; taking care of the skin around your eyes by minimizing sun exposure, gently cleansing, and using moisturizers is still the first line of defense! We’re happy to discuss your aesthetic concerns at Gem State Eyecare, and we encourage you to bring up your questions at your next routine eye exam.

As you can see, comprehensive eye care is about far more than your vision - though that is paramount. Our eye care professionals treat a wide range of conditions, injuries, infections, and diseases, while also going the distance to ensure you are pleased with the aesthetic appeal of your beautiful eyes. It is never too early or too late to establish a positive relationship with a local Boise optometrist who cares about your total wellness. Don’t neglect your eyes in your quest for better health. [Reach out to Gem State Eyecare for your next eye appointment](https://www.gemstateeyes.com/).