Eye Exams in Charlotte, NC
Protect your sight and overall health with comprehensive eye examinations from Charlotte’s most experienced eye care specialists.
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Understanding Eye Exams
A comprehensive eye exam is far more than a vision check. It evaluates the full health of your eyes, screening for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and dozens of other conditions that often have no early symptoms. Catching these conditions early makes a critical difference in outcomes.
Beyond eye health, a comprehensive exam can reveal early signs of systemic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and autoimmune disease. The blood vessels and structures in your eyes often show changes before symptoms appear elsewhere in your body.
Who Should Be Screened
Certain groups require more frequent eye exams regardless of how their vision feels. These include people with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, those of African or Hispanic descent (higher glaucoma risk), high myopes, and anyone taking medications known to affect eye health.
Contact lens wearers require annual exams to monitor corneal health. Patients with prior eye surgeries or conditions like uveitis need more frequent monitoring. Children need early and regular screening to catch amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive errors during critical developmental years.
What to Expect
Your comprehensive exam includes visual acuity testing, refraction to determine your glasses prescription, intraocular pressure measurement, and a dilated examination of your retina and optic nerve. Advanced imaging such as OCT and Optomap may also be used depending on your needs.
Most exams take 45 to 90 minutes including dilation time. Bring your current glasses or contact lenses and a list of any medications you take. If your eyes are dilated, plan for light sensitivity and blurred near vision for a few hours afterward and arrange transportation if needed.
Exam Frequency
Children should have their first eye exam at 6 months, again at age 3, and before starting school. Adults under 40 with no risk factors can be seen every 2–3 years. Adults 40–64 should have annual exams as presbyopia begins and glaucoma risk increases.
Everyone 65 and older needs annual comprehensive eye exams as the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy increases significantly with age. Anyone with diabetes, a family history of eye disease, or high-risk medications should have annual exams regardless of age.
Eye Exam Services We Offer
We provide comprehensive eye care evaluations for every patient and every stage of life, including routine annual exams and specialized screenings for diabetes and glaucoma. Advanced diagnostic technology helps our specialists protect both your sight and your overall health.
Routine Comprehensive Exams
Complete evaluation of visual acuity, refraction, eye pressure, and dilated retinal exam to screen for refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye conditions.
Diabetic Eye Screenings
Specialized retinal evaluation detecting diabetic retinopathy before symptoms develop, identifying blood vessel damage at its earliest and most treatable stage.
Glaucoma Screenings
Optic nerve evaluation, visual field testing, and advanced imaging form a thorough glaucoma assessment personalized to your family history and risk profile.
Optomap® Retinal Imaging
Wide-field retinal imaging capturing detailed images without dilation at select locations, providing immediate, comparable results for ongoing monitoring over time.
Meet Your Charlotte Eye Care Team
Dedicated specialists and experienced optometrists focused on protecting your sight and overall health through thorough, personalized eye care.
Nicolas M. Beaupre, OD
Expert in Primary Eye Care & Advanced Ocular Health
Serving Cotswold, Huntersville & Mallard Creek
Stephen A. Daugherty, MD
Pediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Specialist
Benjamin C. Kramer, MD
Pediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Specialist
Serving Cotswold, Huntersville & Mallard Creek
Jonathan S. Minkowski, MD
Cataract, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Specialist
Gerald B. Rosen, MD
Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgery Specialist
Serving Cotswold, Mallard Creek & Pineville
Strutha C. Rouse, II, MD
Fellowship-Trained Retina & Vitreous Specialist
Serving Cotswold & Huntersville
Steven J. Ryder, MD
Fellowship-Trained Retina & Vitreous Specialist
Hunter S. Stolldorf, MD
Cataract, LASIK & Refractive Surgery Specialist
Serving Cotswold, Mallard Creek & Mooresville
Royce R. Syracuse, MD, MBA
Comprehensive Ophthalmology & Cataract Surgeon
Serving Huntersville & Mooresville
Kevin R. Tomasko, Jr., MD
Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Xueyang (Sarah) Wang, MD
Fellowship-Trained Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
Serving Cotswold & Mallard Creek
Comprehensive Eye Exams Throughout Charlotte
Comprehensive eye exams are available at all seven of our conveniently located offices:
Browse locations:
Vision Restored, Lives Transformed
“I transferred from CEENTA to Dr Ryder at Horizon Eye Care-Cotswold. Today was my first appointment. I can say I was pleasantly surprised. I had absolutely no wait time. The office has…”
“Dr. Cameron was friendly yet quite professional. His exam seemed thorough and his recommendations sound. He answered questions I had and took his time - he was not rushed to get to…”
“All staff from checking in at the front desk, throughout my appointment were very helpful. Dr.Minkowski did a great job of explaining options/the process of cataract surgery with me, especially given my…”
“I have been coming to Dr. Minkowski for over 2 years and he is an awesome doctor. He makes you feel welcomed and worry free. He explains everything in detail and will…”
“I saw Dr Hoffman at Horizon Eye Clinic yesterday and it was my first visit with him. He was extremely professional and very thorough in my eye exam. He has a warm…”
“Great service, just short staffed.”
“The staff and doctors are extremely professionals. People may complain about the wait time, but the doctors and staff are extremely apologetic which is fine with me. Emergencies happening. Awesome job and…”
“Dr Rosen has been treating me for 9 years! He’s always patient and answers all my questions!”
“I was very impressed w/ Dr. Hoffman. My exam went well, he answered questions.”
“Dr. Santana was thorough and laid out the plan to repair my Macular Tear . She was very pleasant as well as all the staff at the Mallard Creek office.”
“He was caring answering questions that I had. listened as I explained my symptoms, ran tests and explained the diagnosis. Set follow up visit, with the ability to return sooner if symptoms…”
“Dr. Hoffman and his assistants were thorough and pleasant -a comfort to know they are in my family of doctors, etc. thanks.”
“Staff was professional and Dr. Hoffman listened to me and my concerns. I would give him 5 stars. The wait time at the Cotswald location was horrible as always.”
“Horizon is an exceptional care facility. The people all knew what to do to help me. I will certainly go there again.”
“Excellent”
“My eye surgery was very successful. Dr. Tomasko and his staff really took good care of me. I was really nervous about the procedure and they made me feel really comfortable.”
“Dr tomasko and staff were efficient, professional and friendly”
“Visiting Dr Biber was a very pleasant experience. He explained the problems of my eyes and how he is going to take care of them. Looking forward to next visit.”
“Doctor Hoffman was thorough and explained things to me in professional and easily understandable way. The entire staff at this location was polite, positive, and very helpful. This was my first visit…”
“Great with my daughter and very friendly”
Eye Exam Resources
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