Finding an optometrist isn’t only about choosing the closest office or waiting until you need new glasses. Your eye doctor plays an important role in protecting your vision, monitoring changes in your eye health, and making sure you look and see your best!
So, what should you look for when choosing an optometrist in Concord, NC? Understanding what a practice offers can help you choose an eye doctor who can care for more than just your prescription. Here’s what to consider, some of the common vision concerns we see, and what you can expect when you schedule an eye exam at Northpoint Eye Studio.
Not every eye care experience is the same. When you’re deciding where to establish care, consider both the experience of the doctor and whether the practice can continue meeting your needs as your vision changes.
Start with the person who will actually be caring for your eyes! Look at your optometrist’s education, clinical experience, areas of interest, and whether they continue expanding their knowledge as eye care technology and treatments evolve.
Dr. Joyce Adeleke earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, now Salus University, before completing a residency at the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC. She opened Northpoint Eye Studio in 2010 and has continued expanding the practice’s capabilities ever since.
That includes developing particular expertise in areas such as dry eye disease and specialty contact lenses. After seeing patients struggle with persistent dry eye symptoms that were not responding to traditional eye drops, Dr. Adeleke pursued additional education and brought more advanced diagnostic and treatment options into the practice.
Experience matters, but so does a willingness to keep learning. Your vision care should evolve as the field does!
Being able to read the smallest line on an eye chart is only part of an eye exam. A comprehensive eye exam evaluates your vision and prescription while also giving your optometrist an opportunity to examine the health and function of your eyes.
At Northpoint Eye Studio, our annual eye exams include vision testing, prescription evaluation, eye pressure testing, retinal health assessment, and examination of the overall structures and function of your eyes. This gives Dr. Adeleke the opportunity to look beyond whether your prescription has changed and monitor for other concerns that may affect your sight or eye health.
Your vision needs at 25 may look very different from your needs at 45, 65, or even next year.
Maybe you love your glasses but want the freedom to go to the gym, play sports, travel, or spend certain days without them. A contact lens exam can determine which lens type and fit may work best for your eyes and lifestyle. Or maybe your eyes have become persistently dry, gritty, watery, or uncomfortable. Northpoint’s Dry Eye Center provides advanced diagnostics and treatment options designed to determine what is actually contributing to those symptoms rather than treating every case of dry eye the same way.
Perhaps your child’s nearsightedness keeps progressing every year. Instead of simply updating their prescription, myopia management may help slow that progression.
Did you know that Northpoint Eye Studio also provides emergency eye care for concerns such as eye infections, foreign objects, injuries, chemical exposure, sudden vision changes, flashes, floaters, pain, redness, and other urgent symptoms? Having an established optometrist who already knows you can make a big difference when something changes unexpectedly. After-hours instructions are also available through the office phone line when an eye emergency happens outside regular business hours.
Reviews can tell you much more than whether patients simply “liked” an office. When evaluating an optometrist, look for patterns. Do patients say the doctor listens? Do they feel rushed? Are questions explained clearly? Do people return year after year? Does the staff make the experience comfortable? Those are often much more revealing than a star rating alone.
The recurring themes in Northpoint Eye Studio’s patient feedback are remarkably consistent: thorough exams, attention to detail, a friendly and welcoming team, Dr. Adeleke taking the time to answer questions, and patients feeling cared for rather than rushed.
And because clear vision is only half the equation, patients frequently mention another Northpoint favorite: the eyewear! Northpoint was designed as both an eye care practice and optical studio, with a curated collection of designer eyewear for stylish patients who want something more distinctive than the same frames they see everywhere else. After all, seeing your best doesn’t mean you can’t look your best too!
If it’s been a while since your last appointment, knowing what happens during an eye exam can make the experience feel much more straightforward. While every appointment is customized to the patient, here’s a general idea of what you can expect.
Your eye exam starts with a conversation. Be prepared to discuss any changes you’ve noticed in your vision, current glasses or contact lenses, medications, health conditions, family eye-health history, and any symptoms that have been bothering you.
This is also a good time to mention things that may seem small, such as:
Those details can help your optometrist better understand how your eyes are functioning in everyday life.
Vision testing helps determine how well you’re seeing at different distances and whether your existing prescription still provides the clarity you need, but a comprehensive eye exam goes beyond your glasses prescription. Your examination may also include evaluating eye pressure, retinal health, eye structures, and overall eye function to look for changes or signs of eye disease.
Once your exam is complete, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss what comes next. That could mean simply returning for your next visit, monitoring an eye-health concern, or discussing treatment. Additional testing may also be recommended based on your age, medical history, symptoms, or findings during your exam.
If a new prescription means new glasses, don’t forget to explore Northpoint’s designer eyewear collection and find frames that complement your prescription, lifestyle, and personality!
There isn’t one examination schedule that’s right for every person. How frequently you should have an eye exam can depend on your age, prescription, medical history, family history, contact lens use, eye-health findings, and whether you’re currently managing an eye condition. Your optometrist can recommend an appropriate schedule based on your individual needs.
And if something changes between routine exams, such as blurred vision, persistent discomfort, flashes or floaters, pain, redness, or another new symptom, don’t assume you have to wait until your next scheduled visit.
The best optometrist isn’t necessarily the closest office or the practice with the biggest frame wall. It’s someone you trust with your vision, who takes the time to understand what you need and has the resources to continue caring for your eyes as those needs change.
For more than 15 years, Northpoint Eye Studio has cared for patients from Concord, Charlotte, Huntersville, Davidson, and surrounding communities while continuing to expand the technology, expertise, and care available to our patients.
If you’re ready to experience a different kind of eye care, we’d love to see you at Northpoint.
