Seeing clearly is essential for living a healthy, active life, yet many people don’t realize how much their vision affects their daily activities until they experience issues. Regular eye exams are an important part of maintaining eye health, as they help detect vision problems early, making treatment more effective.
Your optometrist will assess your eye health during an exam, through a variety of eye tests. These eye tests can include:
- Visual acuity test
- Refraction assessment
- Eye muscle test
- Pupil response test
- Peripheral vision test
- Slit lamp exam
- Intraocular pressure test
- Retinal examination
What is an Eye Exam & Why Does it Matter?
An eye exam is a series of tests performed by your optometrist to assess your vision and check for signs of eye disease. While many associate eye exams with just getting glasses, they’re much more comprehensive.
Regular exams help identify vision issues, monitor changes in eye health or prescription, and detect conditions like glaucoma or diabetes-related vision changes that may not show symptoms early on.
Routine eye exams can also help support your overall health by spotting signs of health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes.
What Happens During an Eye Exam?
Every eye exam has several core steps, each designed to give the optometrist a full picture of your eye health and vision needs. Here’s what you can expect:
Medical History and Vision Concerns
Your optometrist will start by asking about any current vision problems, your medical history, and any medications you take.
This information is essential because certain conditions and medications can affect your eyes and vision. Discussing specific vision issues helps the optometrist tailor the exam to address your unique concerns.
Visual Acuity Test
A visual acuity test often involves reading letters on an eye chart. This familiar test measures how clearly you can see at a distance, which helps detect any refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness.
If you’re struggling to read the letters, it may indicate that you need glasses or an updated prescription.
Refraction Assessment
Using a tool called a phoropter, the optometrist will place lenses in front of your eyes and ask which lens provides clearer vision. This step fine-tunes your prescription by measuring how your eyes focus light.
A precise prescription helps to align you with glasses or contact lenses that are optimized for your vision needs.
Eye Muscle Test
To evaluate how well your eyes work together, the optometrist may ask you to follow a moving object, such as a pen or small light.
This test assesses the strength and coordination of the eye muscles. Poor muscle function can lead to issues like double vision or eye strain.
Pupil Response Test
During this test, the optometrist checks how your pupils react to light. Healthy pupils will quickly constrict (get smaller) in bright light and dilate (get larger) in low light.
An abnormal pupil response could signal an issue with the eye or even a neurological problem.
Peripheral Vision Test
Your peripheral, or side vision, is as important as your central vision. In this test, you’ll be asked to focus straight ahead while the optometrist assesses your ability to see objects out of the corner of your eye.
Reduced peripheral vision can indicate issues such as glaucoma.
Slit Lamp Exam
A slit lamp is a special microscope used to examine the structures at the front of your eye, including the cornea, iris, and lens.
This detailed examination helps detect cataracts, corneal damage, and signs of eye disease, such as macular degeneration.
Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Test
Often referred to as the “puff test,” this checks the pressure inside your eye. High eye pressure can be a sign of glaucoma, a serious eye condition that can lead to vision loss if left untreated.
While the test may feel a bit strange, it’s quick and essential for detecting glaucoma.
Retinal Examination
Lastly, your optometrist will examine your retina, located at the back of your eye. This can be done using an ophthalmoscope or digital imaging, which provides a clear view of the retina and optic nerve. This part of the exam helps identify signs of retinal diseases, like diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration.
How Often Should I Get an Eye Exam?
A patient’s first visit is recommended as early as 6 to 12 months old, and at least once between the ages of 3 to 5 years old. For children 6 to 17 years old, eye exams should occur on an annual basis.
Patients that are 18 to 64 depending on the health of their eyes should have an eye exam once every two years. However, if you have vision correction needs or health issues that may affect your eyes, your optometrist might suggest yearly exams.
As we age, more eye exams may be needed due to increased risk of eye diseases. Adults 65 and over should have annual eye exams. Always follow the advice of your eye doctor as your specific situation may require more regular visits.
If you have a specific eye condition or are at risk for certain diseases, your optometrist might suggest a more frequent schedule to closely monitor changes and prompt treatment if necessary.
An eye exam is more than just a vision test—it’s a thorough checkup that keeps your eyes and overall health in focus. From assessing your visual acuity to detecting signs of eye diseases, every step in an eye exam contributes to maintaining clear vision and good eye health. Regular exams help catch issues early, allowing for timely treatment and protecting your sight for years to come.
Booking an Eye Exam
Whether it’s your first exam or it’s time for a checkup, you can trust the team at Total Vision. Our experienced optometrists are passionate about eye care and dedicated to providing thoughtful, expert advice on everything from eye health to contact lenses.
We take pride in our ability to answer all your questions and keep you informed about the latest trends in frames and lenses. Come in for your eye exam today—you’ll be glad you did!
