What is a typical eye care exam like? People who have had healthy eyesight all of their lives are not sure what to expect when they are scheduled for an appointment with an eye doctor. If you are having vision problems you will be requested to undergo a comprehensive eye exam. Here’s what you need to know.
To check the condition of your eyes you will be asked to take a series of tests and other procedures. These tests vary depending on your chief complaints. Examples of these tests include reading an eye chart and using high-powered lenses to inspect the intricate structures in your eye. A comprehensive eye exam usually takes an hour to complete but this is not conclusive. It will depend on the type of tests you will be asked to take. The following are some of the eye and vision tests included in a typical comprehensive eye exam.
To measure visual acuity, a standard eye chart is used. Health care professionals including optometrists, nurses, ophthalmologists and physicians commonly use an eye chart to check for visual sharpness. This chart is placed at a standard distance from you. You will be asked to identify the symbols printed on the chart. Your eye doctor will instruct you to read the larger symbols first until they get smaller. The smallest symbols you can read correctly will reflect your visual acuity. The most popularly used eye chart today is the Snellen chart but there are also other types like the Jaeger chart, Golovin-Sivtsev table, E chart and Landolt C.
A test that checks your color vision is called a color blindness test. This test is usually done first so that your eye doctor can rule out color blindness. A color blindness test also notifies your eye doctor for other possible problems that may contribute to your color vision issues.
A cover test is another type of eye test that checks your eye alignment. In this test, your eye doctor will instruct you to focus your sight on a tiny object that’s placed right across the room. Your eye doctor will cover your eyes alternately while you focus your gaze on the object. The same rules apply during the second phase of the test the only difference is that the object is moved closer to you.
An ocular motility test is a test that checks your eye movements. Your doctor will evaluate if your eyes are able to follow a moving object fast and if you are able to fix your gaze on two different targets.
A retinoscopy is also done during the first part of the eye exam so that your eye doctor can get an estimate of your eyeglass prescription. In this test, the room will be dimmed and your eye doctor will instruct you to focus your eyes on a huge letter “E” printed on the eye chart. While you stare at the letter your eye doctor will hold a light and direct it at your eye and then flip lenses in a machine to evaluate the lens powers needed to correct your vision.
Refraction is another test that will help your eye doctor find your eyeglass prescription. In this particular test, a phoropter is placed right in front of your eyes. This tool will show you a sequence of lenses. Your eye doctor will then ask you which of those two lenses will make your vision clearer. Your eyeglass prescription will depend on your answers. This test will also identify the level of your myopia, or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism.
Takeaway
These are just some of the tests you’ll be taking during a comprehensive eye exam. Depending on your eye health, your eye doctor may require more tests to come up with an accurate treatment plan.