The most important preventive step is receiving routine examinations by a qualified eye care professional. Children should receive their first comprehensive eye examination before the age of four, unless a specific condition or history of family childhood vision problems warrants an earlier examination. Persons ages 20 to 40 should have an eye exam every five years, unless visual changes, pain, flashes of light, new floaters, injury, or tearing occurs. Then, immediate care is necessary. Persons 40 to 64 years old should have an eye exam every two to four years, and persons age 65 and over every one to two years.

Persons with diabetes are at risk for several eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts, and should have eye examinations every year.

African-Americans are at greater risk for glaucoma, and should have eye examinations every three to five years before the age of 40, and every two years after age 40.

Eye Care Services 
Eye Care Services provide routine as well as medical and surgical eye care for adults and children with ocular disease. Special areas of interest include medical and surgical treatment for diseases of the cornea and anterior segment including cataract-implant surgery and corneal transplantation; diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous; neuro-ophthalmology; ophthalmic plastic surgery; lacrimal and orbital surgery; medical and surgery management of glaucoma; pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus including surgery. The diagnostic and treatment facilities include electrophysiology (electroretinography and electrooculography); visual field testing; ultrasonography, corneal topography, ophthalmic photography including fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) digital angiography and specular microscopy; laser therapy (YAG, Argon/Krypton, diode and cyclophoto coagulation); and cryotherapy. The department also includes orthoptics, low vision and a contact lens clinic.

MCG Eye Care Center
1120 15th Street, 2nd Floor
Augusta, Georgia 30912
706-721-2020