Most people sit in the exam chair, read the chart, and leave with a prescription. But the questions you ask can change what your eye doctor looks for and what care you get. Here are the questions Dr. Teten at Navigation Eye Care in Chesapeake wishes more patients would ask.
Why Your Questions Matter
An eye exam gives Dr. Teten a lot of information, but it can’t tell her everything. She won’t know that your son loses his place while reading or that you get headaches every afternoon at work unless you tell her. When you share what’s going on and ask about it, she knows where to look more closely.
Questions to Ask About Your Child’s Eyes
Did You Check How My Child’s Eyes Work Together?
Seeing clearly is only one part of vision. Your child’s eyes also need to team, track across a page, and shift focus between near and far. A school screening doesn’t test these skills, and a quick exam may not either.
Aiden, one of our vision therapy patients, is a good example. He’s a baseball player who struggled with depth perception, and it was affecting his daily life and his game. His parents weren’t sure vision therapy would help. After consistent therapy sessions, his ability to track and hit the ball improved dramatically, and his family says vision therapy was the only major change they made.
Could Vision Be Affecting My Child’s Reading or Schoolwork?
If your child avoids reading, skips lines, or gets frustrated with homework, ask about it. These can be signs of a vision problem that glasses alone won’t fix.
Is My Child’s Nearsightedness Going to Get Worse?
If your child is nearsighted, ask whether their prescription is likely to keep increasing. Myopia often progresses as kids grow. Navigation Eye Care offers myopia management, including specialty lenses and low-dose atropine eye drops, to help slow that progression.
How Often Should My Child Come Back?
Kids in vision therapy or myopia management usually need more frequent visits than other children. Ask what schedule makes sense for your child.
Questions to Ask About Your Own Eyes
How Healthy Are My Eyes?
Your prescription tells you how well you see. It doesn’t tell you whether your eyes are healthy. Ask about signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy, since many eye diseases have no symptoms early on.
Can I See My Retinal Images?
Navigation Eye Care uses Optomap imaging to take a wide picture of the back of your eye. Ask Dr. Teten to show you the image and explain what she sees.
Why Do I Get Headaches or Eye Strain?
If you get headaches, neck tension, or tired eyes after time on screens, say so. Sometimes the cause is a small misalignment between the eyes. Ask whether Neurolens could help.
Are Contacts a Good Option for Me?
If you’re tired of glasses or play sports, ask whether contact lenses would work for your eyes and lifestyle.
Questions to Ask Before You Leave
Before you walk out, make sure you can answer these:
- What did you find, in plain language?
- Do I need glasses, contacts, or any treatment?
- Is there anything I should watch for at home?
- When should I come back?
If something isn’t clear, ask again. A good eye doctor will take the time to explain.
Write Your Questions Down
It’s easy to forget what you meant to ask once the exam starts. Jot your questions in your phone before your appointment, along with any symptoms you’ve noticed and any eye conditions that run in your family.
Schedule an Eye Exam in Chesapeake
Dr. Teten sees patients from 6 months old through adulthood, and she’s happy to answer your questions. Call or text Navigation Eye Care at 757-529-6889 to book your visit.