There is so much more to your eyes than the clarity of your vision. Regular eye exams are an important part of preventative care, and will help you stay on top of the health of your eyes. Eye diseases and vision problems may not have obvious signs and symptoms, and early diagnosis can help prevent vision loss and other issues.

What to Expect During Your Exam

Your eye doctor will review and discuss with you your medical history as well as any past and current vision issues you may be experiencing, and will evaluate the pressure, binocular function, depth perception, and refractive state of your eyes. They may use retinal imaging or dilation to view the retina, macula, optic nerve and blood vessels. These evaluations can detect glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, eye tumors, hypertensive retinopathy, and many other conditions that can cause vision loss.

What to Bring with You

• Any glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses and contact lens boxes for prescriptions you currently wear.

• A list of current medications.

• Medical records for prior eye care (you can also have your doctor fax these to us).

• Member cards for your medical and vision insurance.

If you have diabetes, there is a higher risk of problems with your eye health. Diabetes-related eye diseases often show no symptoms until severe. If caught early, these issues can be treated and managed to slow or prevent vision loss. Patients with diabetes type one should have a diabetic eye health exam within five years of a diabetes diagnosis, and every year after that. Patients with diabetes type two should have a diabetic eye health exam as soon as possible after diagnosis.

What to Expect During Your Exam:

A diabetic eye health exam includes pupil dilation and may include retinal imaging so that your eye doctor can clearly see your retina, optic nerve, and the blood vessels in your eye. The exam will also include tonometry to measure your eye pressure. These tests are painless. After pupil dilation, your vision may be blurry and your eyes will be more sensitive to light. You should bring dark glasses and be prepared to have someone drive you home.

What to Bring with You

• Any glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses and contact lens boxes for prescriptions you currently wear.

• Medical records for prior eye care (you can also have your doctor fax these to us).

• Member cards for your medical and vision insurance.

• Your latest A1C (blood glucose) results.

At Smart Eye Care, the health of your eyes is our number one priority. We use advanced technology and testing in our clinics. All of our doctors stay up to date on the latest studies and techniques, and are experienced in diagnosing and treating eye disease.

Some of the conditions our eye doctors can help you with are:

• Glaucoma

• Cataracts

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Diabetic Retinopathy

• Amblyopia

• Strabismus

• Dry Eye Disease

• Keratoconus

• Uveitis

• Corneal Ulcers

• Conjunctivitis

• Computer Vision Syndrome

• Keratitis

• Blepharitis

Don’t wait! Early detection and early treatment can slow or prevent vision loss and other problems.

It’s important to see your eye doctor quickly if you think you’re experiencing an eye health emergency. Our knowledgeable clinic staff will ask questions to ascertain the nature of your emergency, and will arrange a telehealth session or get you in for a visit as quickly as possible. Some eye emergencies may develop gradually, and some may become severe very rapidly. Below are some eye emergencies our doctors treat frequently:

• Bright streaks of light

• Car accident vision change

• Chemicals in the eye

• Constant double vision

• Contact lens won’t come out

• Eye infection

• Sudden or intense eye pain

• Floaters

• Sudden vision loss

• Metal or glass in the eye

• Sports injury to the eye

Don't wait! If you are experiencing any of the above, early treatment can save your vision. 

Did you know that nearly 80% of school learning is visual?

Blurry vision, binocular vision problems, and eye health issues can have a significant impact on a child's development and ability to learn, but many children don't know that they have trouble with their vision. The American Optometric Association reports that between 5 and 10% of preschool-aged children and 25% of school-aged children have vision problems. Early identification is critical for treatment and preventing later problems. An eye exam for a baby or a young child is a little different from an exam for an adult, and is also different from a school vision screening. All of our doctors are trained in making this adaptation.

Your child’s first comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor should take place at age 1, 3, 6, and then annually. Our doctors will use a special retinoscope technique to evaluate a pediatric patient’s need for glasses instead of using the “which is better 1 or 2” approach.

Contact lenses are medical devices, and are regulated by the FTC and the FDA. Because a contact lens sits directly on the surface of the eye, people who wear contacts need a different prescription from their glasses prescription. It is also necessary to check for certain eye conditions that may worsen with contact lens wear or even prevent the use of contacts. Your eye doctor will test for these conditions, check your tear film to be certain that your eyes will remain properly lubricated with contact lens wear, determine your contact lens prescription, and will measure the curvature of your eye, your pupil, and your iris to ensure the proper fit for your contacts. Proper fit is very important! A poorly fitted contact lens can not only cause discomfort and reduced vision, it can damage your eye.

Your doctor will also discuss with you what you’ll be using your contacts for, and will ask you a few questions about your lifestyle to ensure that the contact lens type and brand will be a good match for your needs. Once you’ve chosen a brand and type of lens, a trial pair will be ordered for you to use, and a follow-up visit scheduled to ensure that the fit is comfortable for you, and that your eyes are tolerating the lenses well.

Our eyes change over time. No matter how long you’ve been wearing contacts, you will need regular visits to ensure that your contact lenses still fit properly.

After cataract surgery or LASIK, it’s important to visit your eye doctor to ensure that your eye is healing, healthy, and recovering well from the procedure, and also that your post-surgery medications are working. Your optometrist will check your vision and eye pressure, and will discuss post-procedure care and medication use.

Smart Eye Care co-manages care with several eye surgery centers in Maine.

Each time you blink, tears are spread over the surface of your eye, washing away foreign matter and keeping your cornea smooth and clear, lubricating your eye, and reducing the risk of eye infection.

With Dry Eye Disease, you may not produce enough tears, or your tears may evaporate too quickly to properly coat the surface of your eye. Over time this will cause problems, including:

· Stinging or burning sensation in the eyes

· Watery eyes

· Gritty or sandy sensation

· Redness and inflammation

· Blurry vision or eye fatigue

· Stringy mucus in or around the eyes

· Light sensitivity

· Difficulty wearing contact lenses

· Difficulty with nighttime driving

We diagnose Dry Eye Disease with an examination and history, and state-of-the-art diagnostic testing to determine the health of your meibomian (eyelid) glands and the composition of your tears. Treatment is tailored to your specific symptoms.