What to Expect During a Routine Eye Exam
Routine eye exams are quick and painless, and typically only happen once a year. Nevertheless, for some people, the idea of someone getting near their eyes is enough to cause anxiety. However, routine eye exams are essential to your eye health, and they also go pretty quickly. Here’s what to expect during your vision check.
Pre-Appointment Paperwork
Either before your appointment or while you’re sitting in the waiting room, a nurse or office staff member will guide you to some forms to fill out. These forms will allow you to provide your eye doctor with the necessary medical and vision history needed for them to do an accurate eye assessment.
Pre-Eye Exam Tests
After your paperwork is processed, a technician will perform a few basic tests before you see the doctor. These tests assess your color and peripheral vision and screen you for glaucoma. The glaucoma test is often known as the “air puff” test, and that’s often people’s least favorite part of the eye exam. It’s a small puff of air in each eye, and then you’re done!
The technician may also use an autorefractor during the pre-eye exam testing. An autorefractor is a tool that automatically measures vision prescriptions, which can help give the eye doctor a ballpark understanding of your vision needs.
The Routine Eye Exam
After the technician sends the eye doctor in, they will perform a series of tests to ensure your vision and eyes are healthy. These include:
- Pupillary reaction tests use lights to check the responsiveness of your pupils, typically by shining a bright light into your eye. While using that light, the doctor will also inspect the surface of your eye for signs of corneal scratches, bacterial debris, or dry eye.
- During a slit lamp test, the doctor shines a vertical bar of light into your eye to magnify your eye’s surface and inspect for cornea, iris, and lens abnormalities. This test takes only a few minutes, and all you have to do is blink when asked or stare at your doctor’s ear when instructed so they can get a close look at the surface of your eye.
- Visual acuity and refraction tests are the most well-known part of the routine eye exam. Your doctor will ask you to read a chart of letters and numbers with both eyes and then one eye. Your ability to read and identify the numbers will help the doctor determine your vision needs.
After the Vision Check
At the end of your exam, your doctor may ask you if you’d like your eyes dilated. If you consent, the doctor will put a few drops in your eyes that make your pupils enlarge, letting more light into the eye. Your eyes might be sensitive to light for up to an hour after the test, and your vision may be blurry, so take this into consideration if you plan to drive to your appointment.
Contact Windsor Eye Care & Vision Center
A routine eye exam at Windsor Eye Care & Vision Center is essential to maintaining healthy vision, and ensuring that you’re prepared for the appointment will help your exam go smoothly – and will ensure you arrive at your appointment worry-free. Contact Windsor Eye Care & Vision Center to schedule your routine eye exam today.
