Dr. Michael Hooks & Associates is the local eye doctor to see for all of your eye care needs in Hoover, AL. As your local Hoover optometrist, Dr. Michael Hooks & Associates can help diagnose, treat, and detect subtle changes in your eyes year over year. Come visit our offices at 2000 Riverchase Galleria Hoover, AL 35244 and let us help you see and look your best. Our doctors are here to provide the professional eye care near you, to guarantee you have the clearest vision. Call today to schedule an appointment for your annual eye exam.

Dr. Michael Hooks

Contact lenses and Family Eyecare Has participated in multiple Gift of Sight missions and Provides Eye exams for the Alabama Special Olympics

Education

B.S. in Biology and Chemistry Auburn University and Doctorate of Optometry UAB School of Optometry 1983

Experience

Doctor of Optometry Member of the American Optometric Association and Alabama Optometric Association

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see an optometrist?

You should see an optometrist once a year whether or not you believe you need vision correction. An annual eye exam can detect not only eye diseases but also other diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Schedule your eye exam today.

What should I bring to my eye exam?

You should bring your vision insurance and medical insurance information to your eye exam. If you currently wear any prescription lenses, bring your eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. You should also bring any and all questions you may have. Contact your optometrist if you have specific questions about any additional items you think you may need to bring to your eye exam.

How do I know if my child needs glasses?

Taking your child to an optometrist for an eye exam is the best way to learn if your child needs glasses. Many children who need glasses aren’t aware that they do. Signs of vision problems in children include sitting too close to the television, squinting, sensitivity to light, difficulty with eye-hand coordination, and avoiding visual activities like reading and drawing. To see if your child needs glasses, schedule your child’s eye exam today.

How does my vision change with age?

Changes in vision that occur with age include reduced pupil size, dry eyes, loss of peripheral vision, decreased color vision, and vitreous detachment. The most common vision problem that comes with age is presbyopia, which is the normal and unavoidable age-related loss of focusing ability. Different types of lenses can provide help for presbyopia. The risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy increases with age too. Your optometrist will discuss any age-related vision problems you’re experiencing at your next annual eye exam.

Who can wear contact lenses?

Nearly anyone who needs vision correction can wear contact lenses. Contact lenses can provide vision correction for people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination of these issues. Finding the perfect lens for you is sometimes a process of trial and error. All of the lens parameters can be finalized only after you’ve worn the successful combination. Schedule an eye exam to talk with your optometrist about whether contact lenses would be a good vision correction option for you.

What conditions can an optometrist treat?

An optometrist can treat vision problems like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. An optometrist also often treats common eye problems like dry eye syndrome and eye infections. An optometrist can also treat chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma. Optometrists are trained to detect and diagnose all eye problems and eye diseases. Schedule an eye exam today if you are experiencing any problems with your eyes or your vision.

What is involved in an eye exam?

An eye exam involves a series of simple but comprehensive tests that allow your optometrist to assess your vision and your eye health. Your optometrist will discuss the results of your eye exam with you and determine the right prescription to help you to see your best.

Why should I get an eye exam?

An annual eye exam involves more than just updating your glasses or contact prescription. A comprehensive eye exam can also detect eye health issues as well as general health problems. Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be detected in early stages through an eye exam, and this can result in early treatment. Schedule your annual eye exam today.

What is a refraction test?

Your optometrist uses a refraction test to determine your exact eyeglasses prescription. Through showing you a series of lens choices through a device called a phoropter, your optometrist determines the amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism that you have and the lenses needed to correct these vision problems.

How does an optometrist test my eyes?

An optometrist uses several tests and tools to evaluate your eye health and your vision. Your eye exam usually will include a glaucoma test, a retinal screening, a visual field screening, an extraocular muscle test, and a refraction test. The results of these screenings and tests help your optometrist evaluate your vision and overall eye health.

Is a contact lens exam different than an eye exam?

A normal, comprehensive eye exam will allow your optometrist to determine if your eyes are healthy enough to wear contact lenses. During your contact lens fitting, detailed measurements of your eyes will be taken to determine the right contact lenses for you. There is an additional fee for a contact lens fitting and evaluation for all contact lens patients (both new and established patients). Schedule your eye exam today to have all of your questions about contact lenses answered.

What should I expect from the optometrist?

At your optometrist appointment, your optometrist usually will check your eye health and evaluate your vision. After the exam, your optometrist will discuss your vision health and the right prescription for you. Your optometrist can also answer any questions you have about your eye health, eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses. Schedule your eye exam today.

What is the difference between an eye exam and a vision screening?

A comprehensive eye exam is administered by an optometrist and can detect not only vision problems but problems with eye health and general health as well. A vision screening is typically performed by a general medical practitioner such as a pediatrician or a nurse. While a vision screening can help identify vision issues, it can miss many important issues that a comprehensive eye exam can identify. This is why everyone is encouraged to get annual eye exams. Schedule your eye exam today.

How is vision measured?

Vision is measured through a series of tests performed at an eye exam. Visual acuity is commonly measured by a series of two numbers, the first number representing the distance from which a person can clearly see something, and the second number representing the distance from which a person with normal vision can see that same thing. This measurement is typically obtained during an eye exam by having a person read from an eye chart with various sizes of letters.

Can eye exams detect other health issues?

Eye exams can detect eye health issues such as glaucoma and cataracts. Eye exams can also detect general health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. This is why eye exams are an important part of health maintenance for everyone regardless of age or vision correction needs. Schedule your annual eye exam today.

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Dr. Michael Hooks & Associates

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