comprehensive eye exam
What to Expect
Before the actual exam your optometrist will ask you a few questions about your vision history. If you currently wear glasses or contacts, it is a good idea to bring them to your appointment.
During your comprehensive eye exam, a series of tests are performed to assess your vision and the overall health of your eyes.
The process can take between twenty minutes to over an hour, depending on your eye doctor and the procedures to fully assess your vision. Here are a few tests you will likely encounter:
Visual Acuity
Your optometrist will have you read letters of varying sizes from the Snellen chart to check the sharpness of your vision. To test your near vision, a smaller, hand-held chart is used.
Refraction
Your eye doctor will ask which lenses are clearer as different ones are placed in front of each eye. Your answers will help him or her refine the lens power and ultimately determine your final eyeglass prescription.
Slit-Lamp Examination
The slip lamp is a microscope that enables your optometrist to look closely at both the external and internal structures of your eyes. He or she will have you place your chin on the chin rest, then shine the lamp’s light into your eye. The highly magnified view will reveal signs of infection or disease.
Contact Lens Fitting & Evaluation
Contact lenses are medical devices, regulated by the FDA. Contact lens examinations are required on a yearly basis. These tests are done to ensure eye health, proper fit, and clear vision.
Additional Testing:
Optical Coherence Tomography
The latest imaging technology is used to assess retina disorders and glaucoma. This imaging allows the optometrist to view detailed layers of the back of the eye and cross-sectional images.
You will sit in a chair, head and chin resting in a comfortable position, as the computer scans the eye. Royal OOK
Visual Field Analysis
The FA is a tool used for measuring field of view. When a field of view is restricted, this can be an indication of pathology. The results are stored and used for monitoring the progression of vision loss over time. This is an interactive test, where you are prompted to push a button when you see the flash of light.