What Happens During an Eye Exam?
When going into an eye exam, many patients expect the iconic eye chart with letters of different sizes. A complete eye exam, however, tests more than the patient’s vision. During an eye exam, our optometrists use specialized tools to screen your eyes for disease, in addition to checking your visual acuity.
A complete understanding of your current health and medical history allows our optometrists to properly evaluate your eyes. This information also allows you to know whether you have any medical conditions that could affect your eye health or eyesight, such as diabetes. We ask patients to arrive to their eye exams ready to discuss their medical history, family medical history, any current symptoms they are experiencing, and any prescription or over-the-counter medications which they take.
Eye and Vision Tests Commonly Used During Comprehensive Eye Exams
To evaluate eye health, eye function, and visual acuity, patients can expect to have the majority of the following tests done during their eye exams:
Visual Acuity Test – Performed using an eye chart, this test measures how well the patient sees.
Retinoscopy and/or Refraction – Slightly different in method, both of these exams use light shined on the patient’s eyes through different lenses in order to obtain a specific corrective lens prescription.
Color Blindness Test – Only given on the patient’s first visit, this test uses colored cards to test for color blindness.
Cover Test – Covering one eye at a time, our optometrist will examine the function of your binocular vision (how well the eyes work together).
Eye Movement (Ocular Motility) – Our optometrist will ask the patient to follow a moving light or object while observing the movement of the patient’s eyes, looking for signs of abnormalities or other issues.
Slit Lamp Exam – Like a microscope for the eyes, a slit lamp exam allows our optometrist to view the small internal structures of the eyes in detail, looking for signs of disease.
Pressure Test – This test uses a puff of air to measure the eyes’ intraocular pressure, screening for early signs of glaucoma.
Pupil Dilation – Our optometrist may use special eye drops to dilate the pupils in order to better examine the internal structures of the eyes. Patients should bring sunglasses to their appointment to protect their eyes after dilation.