A comprehensive eye examination at Sigma looks at how well you see and the health of the eyes behind that vision. In Anamosa, Marion, and Monticello, our eye-health-first approach brings everyday exams together with experience in complex eye disease, advanced testing, and a clear plan for your care.
You do not have to wear glasses or contacts to need an eye exam. Some conditions, including glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, can develop without noticeable early symptoms. An eye chart measures how clearly you see; it cannot tell the whole story about your retina, optic nerves, or the rest of your eyes. Regular examinations give us an opportunity to find concerns before you notice a problem.
We review your symptoms, medications, family history, and everyday visual needs. Your examination assesses vision and prescription needs, how your eyes work together, eye pressure, and the health of the front and back of the eyes. We look for conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and dry eye. Your age, health, and findings guide the tests your doctor recommends.
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of your eye. It turns light into signals that travel to the brain, and its small blood vessels help keep it healthy. Looking at this tissue and its blood supply can reveal changes associated with diabetes or high blood pressure, sometimes before vision is affected. Bleeding, swelling, or unusual vessel changes may warrant further eye care and follow-up with your medical team. An eye exam adds valuable information to your overall care; it does not replace a physical, blood-pressure checks, blood tests, or visits with your primary care clinician.
Dr. Somogy and Dr. Gurgel both care for macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and other eye conditions. Their experience managing these diseases informs the details they look for during an everyday exam. When findings call for a closer look, our testing capabilities include OCT, which creates detailed cross-sectional images of the retina and optic nerve, and visual field testing, which checks areas of your sight. OCT-A can also show blood-flow patterns in the retina without an injected dye. These tools help investigate concerns and compare changes over time; your doctor chooses them for a clinical reason, rather than automatically adding every test to every exam. OCT-A is available through our Anamosa and Monticello offices, not Marion. Explore Sigma’s diagnostic technology.
Our goal is to identify treatable disease early and protect useful vision for the years ahead. If we find a concern, we explain what it means, whether treatment or monitoring is needed, and when to return. Much of that ongoing care can stay with your Sigma doctor. When a retinal specialist, surgeon, or another clinician is needed, we coordinate the next step. You leave with more than a prescription: you leave knowing what we found and what comes next. Learn about medical eye care at Sigma.
A routine vision visit generally focuses on your vision, prescription needs, and an eye-health evaluation when there is no specific medical concern driving the visit. Vision plans commonly help with these exams and offer benefits for glasses or contacts. Routine does not mean we ignore eye health. If your exam reveals a medical concern, we explain any additional evaluation or follow-up that may be needed.
Visits to evaluate symptoms, an injury, or a known or suspected eye disease are generally considered medical eye care. Examples include a painful or red eye, diabetes-related examination of the back of the eye, and monitoring macular degeneration or glaucoma. A medical visit may be a broad comprehensive examination or a focused visit for one problem. “Comprehensive” describes the scope of the exam; it does not, by itself, determine which insurance is billed. The reason for the visit, findings, services, and your plan’s rules determine how coverage applies.
Please share both your medical insurance and vision plan when scheduling. Medical deductibles, copays, or coinsurance may apply, and prescription measurements, contact lens fittings, or imaging may have separate charges. Some vision plans also include limited medical benefits. Our team can help check benefits and explain expected costs before services, including self-pay options. You do not need to decide on your own which type of exam to book: tell us what you need and we will guide you. See insurance and payment information.
Patient education: National Eye Institute: dilated eye exams · American Academy of Ophthalmology: eye exams and overall health.
Your doctor recommends a schedule based on your age, health, family history, and examination findings. Diabetes, known eye disease, certain medications, or new symptoms may mean you need more frequent care. Feeling fine is not a reason to skip a recommended follow-up.
Your doctor recommends the examination and testing that fit your needs. Dilating drops widen the pupils so the doctor can examine more of the inside of the eye. Imaging can add useful detail, but does not always replace dilation. Ask about temporary light sensitivity or blurred near vision, and any additional fees, before testing.
Bring both medical and vision insurance cards, your current glasses, contact lens information, a medication list, and relevant previous eye records. Tell us about health changes and your primary care clinician. Contact lens fitting involves additional evaluation and fees, so let us know when scheduling if you wear contacts or want to try them.
