• Q: How often should I get my eyes checked?
    Children should be seen as infants, at age 3, and age 5. Students need to get an exam every year.  Contact lens wearers need an annual exam. Adults (18-60) should schedule a checkup every two years.  Older adults (65+) need to be seen every year.  These are general guidelines — at risk individuals or those with certain ocular or medical conditions need to be seen more often.
  • Q: Why is my vision fluctuating?
    A: Many issues and conditions can lead to blurry vision that comes and goes, or changing vision. Some issues will go away with time, while other conditions will need to be monitored and/or treated by an eye doctor or specialist. More common culprits include: • Eye strain • Dry eyes • Poor sleep habits • Diabetes • Cataracts • Certain medications If symptoms become more common or increase, it’s time to make an appointment. You can call or click here.
  • Q: How do I know if my baby needs an exam?
    A: Infants should be able to fixate (“lock” their eyes) on an object soon after birth and follow a moving object by the time they are 3 months old. You can use a toy or bright-colored object to determine whether your baby has reached these early milestones. If you have any concerns about your baby’s eyes, we can help. Greater Vision participates in InfantSee, a program that offers a free exam to infants under 12 months of age. You can find more information here.
  • Q: Does every student need an eye exam?
    A: Vision screenings are required for every school-aged child in Pennsylvania. Quick screenings are available from school nurses and pediatricians, but they are not a substitute for a full optometrist appointment. If your student is squinting, complains of headaches, or begins to struggle with handwriting, reading or computer work, it’s time to schedule a full appointment. You’ll be amazed at the transformation that 20/20 vision can do for your child!
  • Q: Is vision correction surgery right for me?
    A: Many people are interested in surgery to decrease their dependence on glasses or contacts. Today, there are many options available, including LASIK, custom LASIK, PRK, refractive lens exchange and others. We encourage our patients to talk with us about which option we would recommend for their eyes. To read more about the various options for vision correct surgery, please click here.
  • Q: Are online vision tests accurate?
    A: The short answer is no. Online testing does not check ocular health (some conditions can be sight-threatening) and there is a greater risk for inaccurate prescription. Online testing usually doesn’t accept vision plans and it’s difficult to obtain proper measurements for bifocal, trifocal or progressive lens designs.
  • Learn more
    Pro tip from Dr. Beamer and Dr. Hutton — don’t just google your symptoms! We recommend these websites for reliable information about vision for all ages. ● All About Vision – www.allaboutvision.com ● American Optometric Association – www.aoa.org ● InfantSee Program – www.infantsee.org ● Low Vision Resources – www.lowvision.com ● National Eye Institute – www.nei.nih.gov