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What Happens During a Routine Eye Exam?

by Caitlin Obara

A routine eye exam should be part of your annual health checkup. If you haven't been to the eye doctor in a long time, you may have a lot of questions about what to expect. This is what you can expect to happen during your exam.

Test of Eye Strength

One of the first portions of the exam may include a test of the muscles in and surrounding your eye. The doctor will watch your eye as it follows an object, looking for weakness and poor control.

Test of Color Vision

Your doctor will also assess if you may have a deficiency in your color vision. Part of this process might involve you identifying the numbers in differently colored pictures.

Test for Glaucoma

The fluid pressure inside your eye can help your doctor look for glaucoma. A device and anesthetic drops will be used to assess the thickness of the cornea or the pressure in your eye.

Test of Visual Field

Your exam will also involve testing your visual field. This might involve testing where you can see in the perimeter. You may be sitting at a machine for this portion of the exam. You will click a button every time you see a letter or image pop into view.

Assessment of the Retinas

The doctor will use lights to look into the back of your eye. For this part of the exam, the doctor may administer eye drops to dilate your eye so that they can more easily see into the pupil.

Test of Visual Acuity

Next, the doctor will look at your visual acuity. This is the part of the exam during which the doctor asks you to read the letters of the eye chart. You may be asked to hold a card to check your near vision as well as your distance vision. Your eyes will be tested separately and together.

Refraction Exam

The doctor may also perform a refraction test, which is what happens when the doctor brings the big machine to your face. You look through the big glasses, and the doctor asks you which lenses allow you to see the letters most clearly. This is how the doctor helps determine your prescription for glasses and contacts.

Schedule Your Routine Eye Exam Today

If you want to make the most of your healthcare, schedule an eye exam today. You could spot a health issue early or even spot changes in your vision that you can correct or address right away. Call services like Leader Heights Eye Center and book your annual eye exam.

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