Comprehensive Eye Health Examinations

You, your vision and your eye health are all very important to us.  Eye Health Examinations are provided by a combination of the doctor and the paraoptometric assistants. We use the latest in computer and laser instruments to ensure the best result. The examination will vary from patient to patient depending on the health of the individual and their visual needs.

Dr.'s Crotty and Wright are licensed not only to do routine eye health exams but are highly capable to do medical exams that screen for and sometimes even treat medical diagnosis; cataracts, dry eye syndrome, and allergies  to name a few.

Routine Eye Health Exams will typically include:

Medical History
Measurement of visual acuity
Pupil dilation (to evaluate the Retina (back part of the eye))
Intraocular pressure (Glaucoma)
Blood pressure
Visual field screening
Analysis / Diagnosis of vision conditions
Prescription (lenses or medicine)
Prognosis

We also provide:

Contact Lens Fittings and Evaluations 
Refractive Surgery Consultations and Post-Operative Evaluations
Diabetec Examinations
Children's Examinations
Visual Fields Testing

Children's Vision Programs 

Vision is your child's most important sense.  More than 80 persent of what your child learns is through the sense of sight.  20/20 vision is only a small part of good vision.  To perform their very best, your child's vision must be focused well in each eye.  Good eye movement control, eye-hand coordination and eye health are of utmost importance.  Normal visual perception is essential to learning.

Warning signs that may indicate a vision problem

• Frequent rubbing or blinking of the eyes
• Short attention span or daydreaming
• Difficuly reading
• Avoiding close work
• Frequent headaches
• A drop in scholastic or sports performance
• Covering one eye
• Tilting the head (when reading)
• Squinting one or both eyes
• Placing head close to book or desk when reading or writing
• Difficulty remembering, identifying and reproducing basic geometric forms
• Poor eye-hand coordination skills

 InfantSEE was created by the American Optometric Association to provide a one-time  comprehensive eye and vision assessment to infants six to twelve months at no cost.  It is used to determine the healthy development of vision and early detection for the risk of potential eye and vision problems.

 

 

See to Learn is sponsored by the Eye Care Council and the Nebraska Optometric Association to provide a one-time comprehensive eye and vision assesment to children three years old at no cost.  It is used to determine the healthy development of vision and early detection for the risk of potential eye and vision problems.

 Pre-Kindergarten Exams are a comprehensive eye health and vision assessment for children entering school.  This includes the Optomap retinal exam, stereo testing, color testing and all other testing necessary to meet and exceed all legal requirements for the State of Nebraska.

FAQ about Nebraska's School Vision Evaluation Law

What is a "School Vision Evaluation"?  In 2005, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill, LB114, to require written evidence of a vision evaluation for all children entering a beginning grade (kindergarten) or transferring into any grade from out of state.  This law took effect starting with the 2006-2007 school year.

Is this the same as the school screenings that are curently being done within the school districts?  No, there are significant differences between a school screening and a professional vision examination.  While screenings are very useful to detect some signs of vision problems, typical screenings are not designed to identify many vision disorders that could impact the child's ability to learn.  Screenings that involve just reading a standard eye chart detect only 5% of vision problems in children.  Screenings may lead a parent to a false sense of security when it comes to the visual health of their child.  An eyecare professional will have the training and will be able to use the instrumentation necessary to detect any type of irregularity or possible disease of they eye, as well as abnormalities in development of the visual system.

What does a "vision evaluation" consist of? The vision evaluation consists of: checking for refractive error, depth preception, peripheral vision, color vision, eye movement, testing for amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) and internal and external eye health with testing sufficient to determine the best visual acuity.

Why has Nebraska required this vision exam now? More and more reaserch has shown that children with undected vision problems will face challenges with learning, self-esteem and social issues.  More than 80% of what children learn in school relies on vision, yet stastics show that 1 in 5 children entering kindergarten now have an undected vision problem.  Since learning is so dependent on vision, the Legislature felt it was appropriate to begin ensuring that every child in Nebraska is visually prepared to succeed in school. 

Frame Styling & Dispensing

Your choice of frame can determine the effectiveness of your new prescription.

All of our highly qualified Optical Staff are very knowledgeable and certified.

Our Optical Staff is available during all business hourse to help you choose the style, shape and size that is best suited to fit your prescription, face shape and desired look.

We carry an exclusive selection of designer frames by Fendi, Gucci, Valentino, Juicy Couture, Nike, Marchon, Dior, Fossil, Nine West, Tura and many more.

Contact Lens Fitting & Evaluations

Dr.'s Crotty & Wright are very thorough in Contact Lens Fittings and Evaluations and always keep up to date with the newest lens options available.  They prescribe a variety of contact lenses which include:

• 2 Week disposables
• Daily disposables
• Conventional Daily Wear
• Extended Wear
• Toric (for astigmatism)
• Multifocal/Bifocal
• Colored
• Rigid Gas Permeable
• Keratoconus

Patients wearing contact lenses for the first time or switching types of lenses are trained by our knowledgeable staff.  These training sessions supply patients with the necessary information for handling, caring for, inserting and removing the lenses.  Our staff is available during business hours to answer any questions about your contact lenses that may arise.

Decorative Contact Lenses: In the last few years, decorative contat lenses have been developed that make the eyes look like cat eyes or have wild designs on them.  They are generally safe if prescribed by and worn under the supervision of an eye doctor.  However, decorative contact lenses can cause serious eye problems if worn improperly.  There have been reports of corneal ulcers, corneal abrasion and conjuctivitis caused by improper wear. 

Remember, Contact lenses - whether decorative or not - are medical devices that must be prescribed by an eye doctor.  We recommend you not to buy lenses from any sources other than a reputable eyecare professional.  Do not share lenses with anyone.  Wear the lenses only for the time prescribed by your eye doctor.

Surgery Co-Management

If Dr.'s Crotty & Wright feel eye surgery is necessary, they will refer you to an eye surgeon specializing in your specific problem, such  as: Cataract surgery, Laser surgery, Refractive surgery and Strabismic surgery.  Dr.'s Crotty & Wright also perform your pre- and post-operative examinations. 

We provide these services under a co-management program with affiliated doctors we trust and highly recommend. You, the patient, benefits from the cooperative and combined efforts of doctors working together on your behalf.

 Laser Vision Correction

Most people with vision correction issues are wanting to know more about  LASIK and whether it is right for them.  Here is a brief description of the procedure;

A flap is surgically cut in the cornea and gently folded back.  An Exicemer Laser is used to reshape the cornea into a flatter shape (this is much like a contact lens corrects vision by forming a new shape on the cornea).  The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage.  The healing process is quick and the discomfort level is low.

People will  often say that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day.  Most people have improved vision in 24-48 hours.  But it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate.  Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, continues to improve form some weeks, even months.

LASIK is not for everyone.  People's eyes are different so even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK, it may not be the best course of treatment for you.   If you are interested in laser vision correction, we will be happy to guide you in picking the right surgeon, procedure and laser appropriate for you.  For many of you who are long-term contact lens wearers our pre-operative input can make the difference between an excellent result and a mediocre one.

Post-operatively we can monitor your eyes, and taper medications to arrive at the best possible result.  After all, no o ne knows your eyes better than your optometrist.

  Common Eye Diseases

Dr's Crotty & Wright do more than check your vision, they care about your complete eye health needs.  At your yearly appointment you will receive a comprehensive eye health examination using the latest in technology to help detect the following diseases early, in order to prevent the serious progression and loss of vision. 

Macular Degeneration also called Age Related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of impaired vision for which there is no cure.  The most notable symptom is blur or edistortion in the middle of your vision.  A major reason for the devastating effects of macular degeneration has been a lack of effective monitoring instruments to detect the conversion from dry to wet macular degeneration.  Reliance on older, outdated techniques often results in daignosis that is too late - after the disease has beenwet for enough time that retinal damage and vision loss have already occurred.  Treatment for wet macular degeneration works best early on, right when the disease converts to its wet form.

Cataracts: The natural lens in the eye gradually becomes less clear as we get older.  When opacities develop in the lens and the lens gets too hazy, vision will be impaired.  Our office can diagnose and manage cataract care.  When the cataract affects the vision to the extent that you cannot read or see distant objects comfortably, we will recommend cataract surgery.  Our office co-manages with cataaract specialists that are proven experts in cataract surgery.  Cataract surgery can provide you with a bright new world of vision.

Retinal holes, tears and detachments occur when the retina comes loose from the back of the eye.  Holes and tears can be easily treated when detected early.  Without treatement they can cause a detachment, which can lead to permanent vision loss.

 Our Technology for Eye Diseases

Optomap Retinal Exam The optomap retinal image gives eye-care professionals a much larger view (200 degrees) of the back of the eye - your retina - than conventional eye exam equipment.  The images can be taken without dilating your pupils - a very common procedure which is uncomforable and inconvenient for many people.

The optomap image is captured in less than a second and is immediately  displayed for the doctor and patient to review together.  The optomap Retinal Exam offers a unique view of your overal eye and body health very quickly and comfortably.  Since the image can be displayed immediately it allows the eye care professional to review it quickly and if necessary, refer you to a retinal specialist.  Using the internet, the image can be sent anywhere in the world for a specialist to review.

The optomap is used to track, detect and document: Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal holes or detachments, Macular Degeneration, Hypertension, Strokes and Cancer (not only in the eye, but other parts of the human body).

Insurance Information

We work with most of the major insurance companies and HMO's. There are so many different companies and so many different plans within each company, that it is difficult to know all of the allowed fees for each one.

Prior to an examination, we recommend that you review your benefits with your company's representative.  We also recommend you bring your health insurance and vision cards with you at the time of your appointment so that we may assist you fully.  In some cases due to a medical diagnosis we can file that towards your health insurance.

 

 

 

Low Vision Services

Patients who have lost eyesight due to injuries or disease need special types of products to help them function as independently as possible.  We offer a full range of these products through our office.  Our paraoptometric staff is trained to demonstrate the use of some of these devices.  They range all the way from a simple hand magnifier to desktop video magnifiers.

In addition, we can direct those who have low vision problems to products that will help them carry on the day-to-day tasks that they need to perform. 

 

 

 

 

 Vision Therapy

Seeing clearly is not enough.  For many people, reading and hand-eye coordination tasks can be very difficult.  The act of sight not only includes ones eyes, but it also includes the neurological activity that processes the visual information.  Throwing a ball or skiing down a hill, is a learned activity; to do either well takes practice.  Those who do it best are those who started learning at the earliest age.  Sight plays an important role in the learning of these activities.  Sight is the steering mechanism; it is the main activity that provides feedback regarding what really is happening.  We provide Vision Therapy to help individuals learn how to process visual information and develop better hand-eye coordination skills.