What Happens in a Complete Eye Exam?

Complete eye exams are important, even for healthy people with perfect eyesight.

While not as regular as your typical eye exam, you should get a complete eye exam every few years, depending on your age. Children and teenagers can get their eye exam every five years. Young adults can get an eye exam every three years, and people aged 40-64 can get them every two years. Seniors over 65 should get an eye exam every year.

Regular testing helps avoid any high-risk problems with your eyesight and overall eye health. You can learn more about it by reading our article "Regular Eye Exams by Age." (Please link article of the same name here)

But, what exactly is a complete eye exam, and what happens during one?

What Happens in a Complete Eye Exam?

Complete eye exams are different from your cursory vision test, where you have read differently sized letters on the Snellen eye chart from behind a distant line. A complete eye exam is a thorough examination of your eyesight and eyes.

It generally takes up to 2 hours to go through a complete eye exam, and here is what you can expect.

Family & Medical History Review

Your medical history and that of your family can have an impact on your eyesight. Your lifestyle also affects your eye health, and these things are all discussed and recorded to assess any risk factors to look for in the future.

Vision Test

In this test, you stand 20-feet away from the standard Snellen chart and are asked to read letters, numbers, and symbols. This test is done while covering one eye and then with both eyes open.

Refraction Test

If you have perfect vision, a refractive test is done to identify any refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and other relevant eye conditions.

Diagnostic Tests

Ophthalmologists use several tools to conduct diagnostic tests, like autorefractors, retinoscopes, and phoropters. The tests give the numbers needed to prescribe the correct ophthalmic lenses, which correct problems with your eyesight and give you as much clear vision as possible.

Focusing & Teaming Tests

These tests allow ophthalmologists and optometrists to correctly identify how well your eyes focus on things and how well they work together as a team.

Eye Health Tests

Last but certainly not least, the anatomy of your eyes is checked through different tests like:

· Slit Lamp Test
This test tells any signs of aging inside and outside your eyes. It also indicates eye problems, like retinal detachment, macular degeneration, cataracts, and more.

· Tonometry Test
This test is for detecting glaucoma. Early detection helps avoid future blindness.

· Pupil Dilation Test
Your pupils are dilated to check the insides of your eye. This test requires you to avoid sunlight for a few hours till your pupils return to normal functionality.

Conclusion

Complete eye exams are important and can help detect many eye conditions and diseases early on. Early detection helps prevent severe problems and slow down any eye condition you may have, to give you longer lasting and healthy eyesight.

You should get them at the mentioned intervals to avoid any problems with your eyesight and overall eye health.

If you want to learn more about what happens in a complete eye exam or want the best ophthalmic lens solution for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.