Eye Check Up
Eye Check Up
Before the Examination
Medical History and Vision Concerns
Medical History: The eye doctor or technician will ask about your overall health, medications, and any family history of eye diseases.
Vision Concerns: You’ll discuss any vision problems you're experiencing, like blurred vision, headaches, or difficulty seeing at night.
Basic Tests
Visual Acuity Test
Snellen Chart: You'll read letters on a chart to measure how well you see at different distances.
Near Vision Test: Sometimes, your ability to see objects up close will also be tested.
Refraction Assessment
Phoropter: The doctor uses this device to determine your exact prescription for glasses or contact lenses by showing you a series of lens choices and asking which ones make an eye chart appear clearer.
Comprehensive Examination
Pupil Dilation
Dilating Drops: Eye drops may be used to dilate your pupils, allowing the doctor to get a better view of the internal structures of your eyes.
Wait Time: You might need to wait for 15-30 minutes for the drops to take effect.
Slit-Lamp Examination
Slit Lamp: A microscope combined with a bright light is used to examine the front parts of your eyes, including the eyelids, cornea, conjunctiva, iris, and lens.
Detailed Inspection: This helps detect conditions like cataracts, corneal injuries, and macular degeneration.
Intraocular Pressure Measurement
Tonometry: This test measures the pressure inside your eyes, crucial for diagnosing glaucoma.
Methods: It might involve a puff of air (non-contact tonometry) or a device that touches your eye (applanation tonometry).
Retinal Examination
Ophthalmoscope: The doctor uses this tool to examine the back of your eye, including the retina, optic disc, and blood vessels.
Retinal Camera: Sometimes, a photograph of the retina is taken for a more detailed examination.
Additional Tests
Visual Field Test
Peripheral Vision: This test assesses your peripheral vision to detect any blind spots and potential issues with the optic nerve.
Color Vision Testing
Color Plates: You may be asked to identify numbers or patterns within a series of colored plates to check for color blindness.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
OCT Scan: This non-invasive imaging test provides detailed cross-sectional images of the retina, useful for diagnosing macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions.
After the Examination
Discussion of Results
Review Findings: The doctor will discuss the results of the tests, any changes in your vision, and whether you need corrective lenses.
Health Advice: Recommendations for managing eye health, including lifestyle adjustments and follow-up appointments if needed.
Prescription
Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses: If required, you'll receive a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Regular eye exams are important for early detection of eye conditions and maintaining overall eye health. It's generally recommended to have an eye exam every one to two years, depending on your age, risk factors, and whether you currently wear glasses or contacts.