If it has been a while since your last visit to the eye doctor, you may be wondering what happens during an eye exam. A comprehensive eye exam involves much more than reading letters from an eye chart. It allows your eye doctor to check your vision, determine whether you need corrective lenses, and evaluate the overall health of your eyes.
Here’s what you can generally expect during your next eye exam.
What Happens During an Eye Exam?
The exact tests performed can vary depending on your age, medical history, symptoms, and eye health. However, most comprehensive eye exams include several common steps.
Reviewing Your Vision and Medical History
Your eye doctor will typically start by asking about your current vision, previous eye problems, medications, medical conditions, and family history.
This is a good time to mention symptoms such as blurry vision, headaches, eye strain, dry eyes, difficulty seeing at night, or changes in your vision.
Checking Your Visual Acuity
Next comes the familiar eye chart.
You’ll usually be asked to read letters of different sizes while each eye is tested individually. This determines how clearly you can see at various distances.
While this test can determine whether your vision is 20/20, clear vision doesn’t necessarily mean your eyes are completely healthy. That’s why a comprehensive eye exam includes additional testing.
Determining Your Prescription
If you need glasses or your current prescription may have changed, your eye doctor can perform a refraction test.
You’ll look through different lenses and indicate which provides clearer vision. This helps determine whether you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or age-related changes in near vision.
The results are used to determine your prescription for glasses or other vision correction.
Checking Eye Pressure
Your eye pressure may also be measured during your exam.
Eye pressure is one of several factors your doctor considers when evaluating your eyes for glaucoma. The test is generally quick and can be performed using several different methods.
Examining the Health of Your Eyes
Your eye doctor will examine the structures of your eyes using specialized equipment and magnification.
This can include examining the cornea, iris, lens, retina, and optic nerve. These evaluations can help identify signs of eye diseases and other abnormalities that may not yet be affecting your vision.
Will My Eyes Be Dilated?
Not every appointment requires dilation, but your eye doctor may recommend it depending on your age, symptoms, health history, and reason for your visit.
Dilating drops temporarily enlarge your pupils so your doctor can get a better view of the retina and other structures inside the eye.
Your vision may be blurry up close afterward, and your eyes may be more sensitive to light for several hours. Bringing sunglasses can make the trip home more comfortable.
How Long Does an Eye Exam Take?
The length of an eye exam varies depending on the tests you need.
A routine examination may be relatively quick, while appointments involving dilation, imaging, contact lenses, or evaluation of a specific eye condition can take longer.
When scheduling your appointment, ask how much time you should allow for your particular type of exam.
Does an Eye Exam Hurt?
Most routine eye exam tests are painless.
Bright lights or certain tests can feel temporarily uncomfortable, but a standard eye exam should not be painful. Tell your eye doctor if you’re experiencing pain or significant discomfort at any point.
How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?
How often you need an eye exam depends on your age, vision, overall health, family history, and risk for certain eye conditions.
Mountain States Eye Center generally recommends routine eye exams every one to two years. Some patients may need more frequent examinations, particularly those with certain medical conditions or existing eye health concerns.
Your ophthalmologist can recommend an appropriate schedule based on your individual needs.
Why Are Regular Eye Exams Important?
An eye exam isn’t only about determining whether you need glasses.
Some eye conditions can develop without noticeable symptoms during their early stages. Regular comprehensive eye exams give your doctor an opportunity to evaluate the health of your eyes and identify changes that may require additional attention.
You should also contact an eye care professional sooner if you experience sudden changes in vision, new flashes or floaters, significant eye pain, double vision, or an eye injury.
Schedule an Eye Exam in Salt Lake City
Understanding what happens during an eye exam can make your next appointment feel much more straightforward. Most exams involve a series of simple tests designed to evaluate how clearly you see and check the overall health of your eyes.
Mountain States Eye Center provides comprehensive eye exams in Salt Lake City for patients who want to maintain healthy vision and address changes or concerns with their eyesight.
If you’re due for an exam, schedule an appointment with Mountain States Eye Center today.