Eye Exams

An eye examination is a comprehensive assessment of your vision and eye health. Regular eye exams are essential to maintain good eye health, as they can detect potential issues early on, even if you don’t currently experience any vision problems.

Here’s what you can expect during an eye examination:

1. History and Symptoms: The optometric technician will start by asking you about your medical history, any previous eye conditions, and any symptoms you might be experiencing, such as blurry vision, eye strain, or headaches.
2. Visual Acuity Test: This test checks how well you can see at various distances. You’ll be asked to read letters or numbers from an eye chart. This determines if you might need glasses or contact lenses and helps assess the sharpness of your vision.
3. Refraction Test: The optometrist will perform a refraction to determine your exact prescription for corrective lenses. During the refraction the doctor will check for:

Myopia (nearsightedness): Difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.

Hyperopia (farsightedness): Difficulty seeing close objects clearly.

Astigmatism: Blurred vision caused by an irregularly shaped cornea.

Presbyopia: Age-related difficulty in focusing on nearby objects.

4. Eye Muscle Test: The eye doctor will check how well your eye muscles work together and how well your eyes track moving objects.
5. Slit Lamp Examination: This is a microscope that allows the eye doctor to examine the structures of your eye, including the cornea, iris, lens, and retina, to look for any signs of eye diseases or conditions.
6. Tonometry: This test measures the pressure inside your eyes, which helps screen for glaucoma, a condition that can damage the optic nerve if left untreated.
7. Pupil Dilation: In some cases, the eye doctor may dilate your pupils using eye drops to get a better view of the inside of your eyes, especially the retina.
8. Additional Tests: Depending on your specific needs and any symptoms you have, the eye doctor may conduct additional tests to assess eye health thoroughly. Our state of the art OPTOS machine can take an image of the inside of your eye allowing the doctor to see a much wider view.

It’s generally recommended to have a comprehensive eye exam at least once every one to two years, depending on your age, risk factors, and any existing eye conditions. Children and adults over 60 years old may require more frequent eye exams.

Remember, if you’re experiencing sudden changes in your vision or have any concerns about your eyes, don’t wait for a scheduled eye exam; contact an eye care professional immediately for an evaluation.