The following information is intended to outline some basic elements of a typical eye exam in order to better prepare you for a visit. Every eye care professional however is different so each will conduct his/her exam in the way that they feel is best.

Do you need an eye exam?

Most eye care professionals recommend having your vision checked once a year. The exception to this is if you’re experiencing difficulty with your vision or lenses. Difficulty defined as:

  1. Trouble reading near or far.
  2. Blurred vision.
  3. Vision distortions such as seeing halos or spots.
  4. Pain in any way associated with your eyes.
  5. If you feel you may have a damaged lens.
  6. If you experience discomfort with your lenses after proper cleaning and disinfection.

You should also consider coming in more often if there is a history of eye or vision problems in your family.

Children should be checked at 6 months of age and every 6 months thereafter until they are 2 years old. They should be checked every year from 2 to 6 years of age and then every two years unless difficulty arrises.

Being Prepared for the exam

When you go in for an exam you will need to have with you the contact lenses and the glasses you are presently using.

The practitioner will probably ask you a number of questions you should be prepared for. Including:

  1. Questions about your medical history.
  2. Questions about your eye care history and condition.
  3. Your visual needs concerning your work environment ( bright or dim, long term computer use, dusty, dry, ect.)
  4. Your visual needs concerning your personal interests (active sports, extensive reading, computers ect.)
  5. Any other visual needs, concerns, or complaints you might have.

The Exam

The following are some basic elements of an eye exam.

  1. Acuity testing

    One test the practitioner will perform is the visual acuity test. This is testing how sharp your vision is. Generally you will be asked to read an eye chart (called a Snellen eye chart) from 20 feet while one of your eyes is covered. You will be asked to read progressively smaller letters. The smaller the line you can read the better your visual acuity. Your ability to see far off is checked as well as your ability to see close up.

    The term 20/20 vision refers to visual acuity. The first number refers to how far you are from the chart and the second number is the distance from which someone with “normal vision” can read the line. So if you have 20/30 vision you can only read at 20 feet a line a normal seeing person can read at 30.

    The practitioner will check each of your eyes for the best corrective lens by using a phoropter. This device looks like a complex pair of suspended binoculars and allows the practitioner to change the lenses each eye looks through to achieve the best vision possible for you. You will be asked to look through the device and read an eye chart while lenses are changed back and forth. You will be questioned as to which lens is better.

    Many people are concerned about choosing the incorrect lens but the practitioner will change them back and forth enough to determine which lens is correct. If you have trouble deciding say so as this is not unusual and you will be helped.

    This test determines your refraction, that is, it will determine how nearsighted (myopic), farsighted (hyperopic), and/or how astigmatic you are. Astigmatism is the condition of having nonspherically shaped corneas. Your eyes will be checked individually and together and then your near vision will be checked.Eye muscle movement

    Your eye muscle balance will be checked also. You will be asked to follow an object with your eyes without moving your head. This is the ability of your eyes to move and focus together and individually.

  2. Pupillary reactions

    Your pupils reaction to light may be tested. They need to contract under bright light and expand in darkness. The room will be darkened and a light will be shined in each eye and Your pupils reaction will be recorded.

  3. Peripheral vision

    The eye care professional may also check your peripheral vision. For this an instrument called an autoperimeter is used in which you look ahead and your full visual field is examined. Sometimes a practitioner may check your peripheral vision by holding his hands at each side of your face having you look straight ahead and asking you which of his fingers he is moving.

  4. Glaucoma test

    You may be checked for Glaucoma which is a disease that causes an increase in the pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma can lead to blindness so it’s early detection is important. For this examination an instrument called a tonometer is used. This device uses a painless puff of air to check the pressure inside the eye. This test at times can be startling but it is not painful.

  5. Corneal examinations

    The eye care practitioner will also use a slit lamp (biomicroscope) to check the overall health and condition of your corneas. The corneas are the “windows” of your eyes. Here a microscope is used to examine the surface of your eye to determine if any irregularities exist.

    The practitioner will also check the outside curvature of the corneas using a keratometer. This, among other things will determine the base curve of the contacts used to fit your eyes.

  6. Eye interior examinations

    This test involves using a ophthalmoscope, a hand held, flashlight looking microscope. The practitioner checks the eye’s interior for cataracts and retinal problems. Damaged blood vessels can also be seen which can be signs of diabetes and high blood pressure. For this test the eyes must be dilated. Dilation means the enlarging of the pupil, which allows the person doing the examination to see more of the interior of the eye. This is accomplished by using eye drops.

    Dilation allows more light than usual to get into the eye so for a time after the examination your eyes will be very light sensitive. You should have someone with you to drive you home or allow yourself enough time to let your eyes return to normal so you can drive safely.

  7. Post examination conference

    Following the examination of your eyes the eye care practitioner will get together with you to discuss the outcome of the tests. You will be told of any irregularities you need to be aware of and he/she will provide you with your prescription and help direct you to the best eye care options available for you.