What to Expect During Your Eye Exam
If it’s been a while since your last eye exam—or if you’ve never had one—you might not know what to expect. A comprehensive eye exam is more than just checking whether you need glasses! It’s a crucial part of maintaining your overall health and catching potential issues early. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what happens during an eye exam.
Step 1: Reviewing Your Medical History
Before your actual exam begins, your optometrist will collect information about your medical and family history. You’ll be asked about:
- Any current vision problems or symptoms you’ve noticed
- Whether you already wear glasses or contact lenses
- A history of eye diseases in your family, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration
- Any general health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which can affect your eyes
Providing a complete and accurate history helps your optometrist assess any potential risks and tailor the exam to your needs.
Step 2: Eye Tests and Assessments
Once your medical history is recorded, your optometrist will conduct several tests to evaluate both your vision and eye health. These tests are quick, painless, and essential for detecting vision problems early.
1. Visual Acuity Test
This is the standard test you might be familiar with—the one using an eye chart! You’ll be asked to read letters of decreasing size from a specific distance. This helps determine how sharp your vision is.
2. Refraction Assessment (Determining Your Prescription)
If you need glasses or contact lenses, this test will fine-tune your prescription. Your optometrist will place different corrective lenses in front of your eyes using a machine called a phoropter and ask which lens gives you the clearest vision.
3. Visual Field Test (Peripheral Vision Check)
This test assesses your ability to see things in your side (peripheral) vision without moving your eyes. You may be asked to focus on a central point while lights or objects appear in your periphery. If you have blind spots, this test can help detect conditions such as glaucoma or retinal issues.
4. Colour Vision Test
If you have difficulty distinguishing certain colours, you may have a form of colour-blindness. Your optometrist will show you a series of dot patterns containing numbers or shapes that are only visible to those with normal colour vision.
5. Slit-Lamp Exam (Detailed Eye Health Check)
This test allows your optometrist to examine the front and back of your eyes under high magnification. A special microscope with a bright light is used to check for conditions such as cataracts, corneal damage, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease.
6. Eye Pressure Test (Glaucoma Screening)
To test for glaucoma, your optometrist will measure the pressure inside your eyes. The most common method is a quick puff of air onto your eye, known as non-contact tonometry. In some cases, a numbing drop may be used before a gentle device touches the eye to get a more precise reading.
Step 3: Discussing Your Results and Next Steps
Once all tests are completed, your optometrist will go over the results with you. If your vision needs correction, you’ll receive a glasses or contact lens prescription. If any signs of eye disease or other concerns are detected, your optometrist will discuss treatment options, follow-up care, or referrals if needed.
If everything looks good, you’ll be advised on when to schedule your next routine eye exam—typically every one to two years for adults and annually for children and seniors.
Ready for Your Eye Exam?
At Optometrists’ Clinic, we make sure every visit is comfortable, thorough, and tailored to your needs. Whether you need a new prescription, a checkup, or have specific eye concerns, we’re here to help!
Book your appointment today at one of our Edmonton, Leduc, or Westlock locations.
