YOUR EYE EXAMINATION

Your doctor will ask about any eye or vision problems you may be having and about your overall health. You will also be asked to provide a list of all medications you may be taking. An inquiry about occupational and environmental conditions that may affect vision may also be addressed. The doctor will also ask about any previous eye or health conditions of you and your family members.

Visual acuity measurements evaluate how clearly each eye is seeing. As part of the testing, you are asked to read letters on distance and near reading charts. When testing distance vision, the top number in the fraction is the standard distance at which testing is done, twenty feet.  The bottom number is the smallest letter size you were able to read.  A person with 20/40 visual acuity would have to get within 20 feet of a letter that should be seen at a distance of 40 feet.

Preliminary testing may include evaluation of specific aspects of visual function and eye health such as depth perception, color vision, eye muscle movement, peripheral or side vision, and the way your pupils respond to light.

The determination of the appropriate lens power needed to compensate for an individual's level of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism is referred to as the refraction. This testing may be done without the use of eye drops to determine how the eye responds under normal seeing conditions. In some cases, especially for younger children eye drops are used to temporarily keep the eyes from changing focus while testing is done.

Assessment of accommodation, ocular motility, and binocular vision determines how well the eyes focus, move, and work together. This testing will look for problems that keep your eyes from focusing effectively or make using both eyes together difficult.

The external examination of the eye includes the evaluation of the eyelashes, eyelids, conjunctiva, and cornea using a microscope. Measurement of the pressure in the eye (referred to as tonometry) is also performed.  Evaluation of the lens, retina, and posterior section of the eye may be done through a dilated pupil to provide a better view of the internal structures of the eye.  The doctor will look for vision problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, corneal diseases, and macular degeneration. The doctor will also look for ocular changes associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and neurological disorders. 

Your eye doctor will make a final diagnosis and discuss a treatment plan designed specifically for you. In some cases, referral for consultation with or treatment by another health care provider may be indicated.  If you have questions regarding any eye conditions diagnosed, or treatment recommended, don't hesitate to ask for additional information or explanation from your doctor

Most patients feel comfortable driving after having their eyes dilated. If you are unsure or uneasy driving while your eyes are dilated, please be safe and bring another driver to your examination.

Be prepared to provide the doctor with a list of all medications you may be taking. Bring your most recent eyeglasses.  If you have sunglasses, bring them to wear for after your pupils have been dilated. If you wear soft contact lenses, it is helpful to bring along the packaging which indicates what type of soft lens you're wearing. Bring your health insurance card. It is also helpful to be familiar with your particular policy relative to eye care benefits. Many policies cover exams every two years and under certain circumstances you may need a referral from your primary care doctor.