Dr. Giffen prescribes glasses and fits contact lenses, including colored, rigid gas permeable, bifocal, and astigmatism correcting lenses.
Dr. Giffen is also therapeutically licensed and prescribes medications for eye infections and other eye conditions.
Binocular Vision Testing - For patients who skip lines or have to use their finger while reading.
Visual Acuity Test - Visual acuity refers to the clarity or clearness of one's vision, a measure of how well a person sees. The word "acuity" comes from the Latin acuitas, which means sharpness. The reason that the number "20" is used in visual acuity measurements is because, in the United States, the standard length of an eye exam room (that is, the distance from the patient to the acuity chart) is about 20 feet. Someone with 20/20 visual acuity does not have "perfect" vision, since it is quite possible to see better than 20/20. The less the bottom number in the visual acuity ratio, the better the acuity; and the greater the bottom number, the worse the acuity. Therefore, 20/15 acuity is better than 20/20 acuity, and 20/30 acuity is worse than 20/20 acuity
.Dilation - Drops may be used to temporarily enlarge the pupil. The doctor can see only 45% of the eye without dilation. By examining the entire inside of the eye, Dr. Giffen can see problems that you cannot feel or see until they impair your vision.
Keratometer - A diagnostic instrument for measuring the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, particularly for assessing the extent and axis of astigmatism. It was invented by the French ophthalmologist Samuel Hankins in 1880. Used to design and fit contact lenses and monitor certain corneal pathology.
Refraction - The degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism is determined during this test. A series of lenses are used and adjusted before your eyes to determine the best correction.
Ophthalmoscopy - Dr. Giffen examines the inside of your eyes with an instrument that illuminates and magnifies the interior of the eye. Conditions such as cataracts, diabetes or hypertension can be detected.
Visual Field Testing - A visual field test is a method of measuring an individual's entire scope of vision, that is their central and peripheral (side) vision. Visual field testing actually maps the visual fields of each eye individually. The visual field test is a subjective examination, requiring the patient to understand the testing instructions, fully cooperate, and complete the entire test in order to provide useful information.
Tonometry - This test measures the internal pressure of the eye. Tonometry is very important as it is used to establish pressure goals in treating glaucoma and monitoring patients suspicious of having glaucoma. There are numerous instruments which are employed in order to verify the accuracy of your eye pressure.
Non-Contact Tonometry - This is the familiar "air puff" instrument.